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■THEOLOGICAL  TSEMINARY,| 


^  Princeton,  N.  J. 


From  the  PUBLISHER.  , 

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A  history  of  the  Westminste: 
assembly  of  divines 


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WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY 


DIVINES. 


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EMBRACING  AN  ACCOUNT  OP  ITS  PRINCIPAL  TRANSACTIONS, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


MOST  CONSPICUOUS  MEMBERS. 


COMPILED   FOR   THE   BOARD   UP   PUBLICATION   FROM   THE   BEST   AUTHORITIES, 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PRESBYTERIAN    BOARD   OF   PUBLICATION, 

JAMES     RUSSELL,      PUBLISIIINU     AGENT. 

1841. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1841,  by  A.  \V.  Mitchell, 
M.  D.,  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of 
Pennsylvania. 


Printed  by 

WILLIAM    S.    MARTIEN. 


CONTENTS. 


PART    I. 

Preface, ♦         ....         14 

CHAPTER  I. 

Application  to  the  Parliament  by  the  London  Ministers  to  call  a 
Synod — A  bill  presented  to  the  king  for  this  purpose  at  the 
treaty  of  Oxford — The  Parliament  enact  the  same  in  form  of 
an  Ordinance — The  Ordinance  itself — The  names  of  the  lords 
and  gentlemen  chosen  to  sit  in  the  Assembly — Complete  list  of 
the  Divines  nominated  in  the  Ordinance,  and  those  afterwards 
added, 17 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  Assembly  opened — Rules  of  proceeding — Solemn  oath  of 
the  members — Assembly  divided  into  three  committees — Re- 
vision of  the  Articles  undertaken — Description  of  the  room 
and  manner  of  sitting,  and  of  transacting  business,       .         .        27 

CHAPTER  III. 

Delegation  from  Parliament  and  the  Assembly  to  Scotland — 
Solemn  League  and  Covenant — Commissioners  chosen  to  go  to 
the  Westminster  Assembly — Their  Commission — Reception  of 
the  Commissioners — They  decline  sitting  as  members,         .         32 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Covenant  approved  by  Parliament  and  the  Assembly — Is  solemnly 
sworn  by  the  members  of  both  Houses — Tendered  to  the  peo- 
ple and  taken  by  many — All  persons  in  office,  and  all  persons 
ordained  required  to  take  it, 41 

CHAPTER  V. 

Episcopalians  mostly  decline  attending — The  members  divided 
into  three  parties — Their  respective  opinions — Distinguished 
leaders, 46 

CHAPTER  VL 

Correspondence  with  foreign  Divines 54 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Fifteen  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England  revised— A  view  of  the 
alterations  proposed,     ......••"" 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Confession  of  Faith  composed, "'* 


12  CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms, 80 

CHAPTER  X. 

Form  of  Church  Government, 87 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Directory  for  Public  Worship, 91 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Rouse's  version  of  the  Psalms, 98 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Debates  in  the  Assembly, 102 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Origin  of  the  difference  between  Parliament  and  the  Assembly  of 
Divines, 113 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Parliament  and  the  London  xMinisters — Disputes  about  toleration 
and  uniformity,  124 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Sequestration  of  Ministers — Ejection  of  Masters  and  Professors 
from  the  University  of  Cambridge, 137 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Prevalent  errors  and  sectaries  during  this  period,  .         .       143 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Presbyterial  Church  Government  carried  into  effect,       .         .       155 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Conclusion  of  the  Assembly,  164 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Cliaracter  of  the  Asscmblj',  168 


PART    II. 
BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


Arrowsmith,  John,  D.  D. 

189 

Bowleg,  Oliver 

202 

Ashe,  Simeon 

192 

Bridge,  William 

202 

Backhurst,  Theodore 

193 

Burgess,  Anthony 

203 

Baillie,  Robert,  D.  D. 

194 

Burgess,  Cornelius, 

206 

Baylie,  Thomas,  B.  D. 

200 

Burroughs,  Jeremiah 

210 

Bond,  John 

201 

Byfield,  Richard 

213 

CONTENTS. 

13 

Calamy,  Edmund,  B.  D. 

214 

Micklethwait,  Thomas 

347 

Carter,  Thomas 

224 

Newcomen,  Matthew 

348 

Carter,  William 

224 

Nye,  Philip 

349 

Caryl,  Joseph 

225 

Painter,  Henry,  B.  D. 

352 

Case,  Thomas 

227 

Palmer,  Herbert,  B.  D. 

352 

Cawdry,  Daniel 

230 

Peale,  Edward 

354 

Chambers,  Humphrey,  D. 

D.  231 

Perne,  Andrew 

354 

Cheynell,  Francis,  D.  D. 

232 

Philips,  John, 

355 

Clarke,  Peter 

235 

Pickering,  Benjamin 

355 

Cleyton,  Richard 

235 

De  la  Place,  Samuel 

356 

Coleman,  Thomas 

236 

Price,  William,  B.  D. 

356 

Conant,  John,  D.  D, 

237 

ProfFet,  Nicholas 

356 

Corbet,  Edward,  D.  D. 

240 

Rathbond,  William 

357 

Delme,  Philip 

242 

Reyner,  William,  B.  D. 

357 

Downing,  Calibute,  D.  D. 

242 

Reynolds,  Edward,  D.  D. 

358 

Dury,  John 

242 

Rutherford,  Samuel 

360 

Featley,  Daniel,  D.  D. 

244 

Salway,  Arthur 

365 

Ford,  Thomas 

248 

Scudder,  Henry,  B.  D. 

366 

Foxcroft,  John 

251 

Seaman,  Lazarus,  D.  D. 

367 

Gataker,  Thomas 

252 

Sedgwick,  Obadiah,  B.  D. 

369 

Gibbon,  John 

267 

Simpson,  Sidrach,  B,  D. 

371 

Gillespie,  George 

267 

Smith,  Peter,  D.  D. 

372 

Gipps,  George 

269 

Spurstowe,  William,  D.  D. 

373 

Gibson,  Samuel 

270 

Staunton,  Edmund,  D.  D. 

374 

Goode,  William 

270 

Sterry,  Peter,  B.  D. 

379 

Goodwin,  Thomas 

270 

Strickland,  John,  B.  D. 

379 

Gouge,  William,  D.  D. 

281 

Taylor,  Francis,  B.  D. 

380 

Gower,  Stanley 

286 

Temple,  Thomas,  D.  D. 

381 

Greene,  John 

287 

Tesdale,  Christopher 

382 

Greenhill,  William 

287 

Thorowgood,  Thomas,  B.  D.  382 

Hall,  Henry 

288 

Tuckney,  Anthony,  D.  D. 

382 

Henderson,  Alexander 

288 

Twisse,  William,  D.  D. 

385 

Hardwick,  Humphrey 

302 

Valentine,  Thomas,  B.  D. 

391 

Harris,  Robert 

303 

Vines,  Richard 

392 

Herle,  Charles 

311 

Walker,  George,  B.  D. 

395 

Heyrick,  Richard 

313 

Wallis,  John,  D.  D. 

397 

Hickes,  Caspar 

314 

Ward,  John 

401 

Hill,  Thomas,  D.  D. 

316 

Whincop,  John,  D.  D. 

402 

Hodges,  Thomas,  B.  D. 

318 

Whitaker,  Jeremiah 

402 

Hoyle,  Joshua,  D.  D. 

318 

Wilkinson,  Henry,  B.  D. 

405 

Jackson,  John 

319 

Wilkinson,  Henry,  D.  D. 

406 

Langley,  John 

319 

White,  John 

407 

Ley,  John 

320 

Wilson,  Thomas 

409 

Lightfoot,  John 

322 

Woodcock,  Francis,  A.  B. 

418 

Love,  Christopher 

335 

Young,  Thomas,  B.  D. 

419 

De  La  March,  John 

343 

Marshall,  Stephen,  B.  D. 

343 

LAYMEN. 

Maynard,  John 

346 

John  Selden 

420 

Mewe,  William,  B.  D. 

347. 

Sir  Matthew  Hale 

426 

PREFACE. 


The  authentic  minutes  or  journal  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines  have  unhap- 
pily been  lost,  or  lie  concealed  in  some  place  where 
they  have  escaped  the  notice  of  all  who  have  given 
any  account  of  this  venerable  Assembly.  But  if  we 
had  them,  it  is  not  probable  that  they  would  afford  us 
much  satisfaction,  as  they  of  course  would  contain  no 
more  than  a  dry  detail  of  motions  and  resolutions, 
without  any  report  of  the  reasonings  and  arguments 
for  or  against  each  proposition. 

As  far  as  we  know,  no  history  of  the  Assembly  has 
ever  been  separately  written.  Neal,  in  his  ^'  History 
of  the  Puritans,"  has  given  by  far  the  fullest  account 
of  this  important  synod;  but  it  is  interspersed  in  the 
civil  and  political  history  of  the  times.  Neal  seems 
to  have  had  access  to  important  documents,  some  of 
which  are  referred  to  as  manuscripts,  in  his  posses- 
sion; he  never  refers,  however,  to  the  journals  of  the 
Assembly,  from  which  it  may  be  inferred,  that  he  had 
not  seen  them.  Robert  Baillie,  Principal  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Glasgow,  and  one  of  the  Scottish  Commis- 
sioners to  the  Westminster  Assembly,  wrote  many 
letters  during  his  attendance  on  the  body,  giving  a 
brief,  familiar  account  of  various  transactions,  and 
particularly  describes  their  manner  of  sitting  and 
doing  business,   with   some   notice  of  persons   and 


PREFACE.  15 

transactions.  Most  of  these  were  addressed  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Spang,  his  own  cousin,  and  minister  of  an 
EngUsh  congregation  in  Holland.  These  letters  fur- 
nish much  information  of  particulars  which  will  be 
grateful  to  the  curious. 

Dr.  Lightfoot,  so  well  known  to  the  literary  public, 
was  a  leading  member  of  this  Assembly,  and  kept  a 
brief  journal  of  the  proceedings  for  more  than  a  year; 
but  his  remarks  are  very  concise,  and  his  journal  does 
not  extend  to  the  most  interesting  period  of  the  trans- 
actions of  the  Assembly.  This  journal  has  been  pub- 
lished in  the  last  volume  of  the  late  octavo  edition  of 
his  works. 

Dr.  Ayton,  in  his  "  Life  of  Alexander  Henderson,'^ 
has  mentioned  some  facts,  not  in  the  other  authorities; 
but  he  has  added  very  little  to  the  knowledge  of  this 
Assembly,  previously  possessed. 

In  the  life  of  Dr.  Goodwin,  by  his  son,  it  is  asserted, 
that  this  distinguished  Independent,  who  occupied  a 
a  large  space  in  the  debates  of  the  Assembly,  left  be- 
hind him  a  journal  of  the  transactions,  extending  to 
eighteen  volumes  of  duodecimo,  marmscript;  but  no 
part  of  these  volumes  has  ever  been  published,  and 
whether  they  are  still  extant,  is  entirely  unknown 
to  us. 

It  might  have  been  expected  that  Lord  Clarendon, 
in  his  «  History  of  the  Rebellion,''  would  have  had 
much  to  say  about  the  Westminster  Assembly,  the 
influence  of  which  was  so  considerable  on  the  civil 
affairs  of  the  country;  but  the  whole  that  he  says,  is 
included  in  one  paragraph;  which,  however,  is  re- 
plete with  contemptuous  bitterness. 

The  compiler  of  the  following  history  has  now 


16  PREFACE. 

indicated  the  sources  from  which  he  has  derived  his 
materials.  He  puts  in  no  claim  to  original  research: 
if  he  deserves  any  credit,  it  is  merely  for  collecting 
and  arranging  what  he  found  scattered  in  the  authors 
named.  For  many  years  he  sought  for  information 
on  this  subject,  with  but  little  success.  He  has 
found  the  same  complaint  of  a  want  of  information, 
and  a  desire  to  obtain  it,  in  many  persons;  especially 
in  young  ministers,  and  candidates  for  the  ministry, 
which  induced  him  to  undertake  the  labour  of  col- 
lecting, under  suitable  heads,  such  information  as 
was  accessible  to  him;  and  if  it  should  prove  unsatis- 
factory to  some,  whose  knowledge  is  more  extensive, 
yet  he  is  persuaded  that  it  will  supply  a  desideratum 
to  many,  who  will  be  gratified  with  the  particulars 
which  he  has  been  able  to  collect. 


WESTxAlIXSTER  ASSEMBLY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Application  to  the  Parliament  by  the  London  Ministers  to  call  a 
Synod — A  bill  presented  to  the  King-  for  this  purpose  at  the 
Treaty  of  Oxford — The  Parliament  enact  the  same  in  form  of 
an  Ordinance — The  Ordinance  itself — The  names  of  the  Lords 
and  gentlemen  chosen  to  sit  in  the  Assembly — Complete  Liit 
of  the  Divines  nominated  in  the  Ordinance,  and  those  after- 
wards added. 

As  early  as  the  year  1641,  the  London  ministers,  in 
a  petition  to  Parliament,  requested  tliem  to  intercede 
with  the  King  for  the  calling  of  a  free  synod,  to  take 
into  consideration  and  remove  the  grievances  of  the 
Church.  The  Commons,  accordingly,  in  their  grand 
remonstrance,  presented  December  1,  1641,  made 
mention  of  the  subject,  in  the  following  words: — 
"We  desire  that  there  may  be  a  general  synod  of  the 
most  grave,  pious,  learned,  and  judicious  Divines  of 
this  island,  assisted  with  some  from  foreign  parts, 
professing  the  same  religion  with  us,  who  may  con- 
sider all  things  necessary  for  the  peace  and  good 
government  of  the  Church,  and  to  represent  the  result 
of  their  consultations,  to  be  allowed  and  confirmed, 
and  to  receive  the  stamp  of  authority.'^ 

In  the  treaty  of  Oxford,  a  bill  was  presented  to  the 
same  purpose,  and  rejected.  Some  time  after,  Dr. 
Burgess,  at  the  head  of  the  Puritan  clergy,  applied 
again  to  Parliament,  but  the  Houses  were  unwilling 
to  take  this  step  without  the  King's  concurrence, 
until  they  were  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  calling  in 
the  Scots,  who  insisted,  that  there  should  be  a  uni- 

2 


18  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

formity  of  doctrine  and  discipline,  between  the  two 
nations.     To  make  way  for  which,  the  ParUament 
turned  their  bill,  which  had    been   rejected   by  the 
King,  into  an  Ordinance,  and  convened  the  Assem- 
bly by  their  own  authority.     The  Ordinance  bears 
date,  June  12,  1643,  and  is  the  very  same  as  the  Ox- 
ford bill,  except  in  the  point  of  lay  assessors,  and  the 
article  by  which  the  assembly  is  restrained  from  ex- 
ercising any  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  or  authority. 
It  is  entitled,  '•'  An  ordinance  of  the  Lords  and  Com- 
mons, in  parliament,  for  the  calling  of  an  assembly 
of  learned  and  godly  divines,  and  others,  to  be  con- 
sulted with  by  the  parliament,  for  settling  the  govern- 
ment and  liturgy  of  the  church  of  England,  and  for 
vindicating  and  clearing  of  the  doctrine  of  the  said 
church,  from  false  aspersions  and  interpretations.'' 
The  ordinance  itself  is  as  follows: 
"  Whereas,  amongst  the  infinite  blessings  of  Almighty 
God  upon  this  nation,  none  is  nor  can  be  more  dear 
unto  us  than  the  purity  of  our  religion;  and  for  that, 
as  yet,  many  things  remain  in  the  liturgy,  discipline, 
and  government  of  the  church,  which  do  necessarily 
require  a  further  and  more  perfect  reformation,  than 
as  yet  hath  been  obtained;  and  whereas, it  hath  been 
declared  and  resolved  by  the   Lords  and  Commons 
assembled  in  Parliament,   that   the   present   church 
government,  by  archbishops,  bishops,  their  chancel- 
lors, commissars,  deans,  and  chapters,  arch-deacons, 
and  other  ecclesiastical  officers,  depending  upon  the 
hierarchy,  is  evil,  and  justly  offensive  and  burden- 
some to  the  kingdom,  a  great  impediment  to  reforma- 
tion and  growth   of  religion,  and  very  prejudicial  to 
the   state   and   government   of  this    kingdom;    and, 
therefore,  they  are  resolved,  that  the  same  shall  be 
taken  away,  and  that  such  a  government  shall  be  set- 
tled in  the  church,  as  may  be  most  agreeable  to  God's 
holy  word,  and  most  apt  to  procure  and  preserve  the 
peace  of  the  church  at  home,  and  nearer  agreement 
with  the  church   of  Scotland,  and   other   reformed 
churches  abroad;  and  for  the  better  effecting  hereof, 
and  for  the  vindicating  and  clearing  of  the  doctrine 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  19 

of  the  church  of  England  from  all  false  calumnies 
and  aspersions,  it  is  thought  fit  and  necessary,  to  call 
an  assembly  of  learned,  godly,  and  judicious  divines, 
who,  together  with  some  members  of  both  houses  of 
Parliament,  are  to  consult  and  advise  of  such  matters 
and  things,  touching  the  premises,  as  shall  be  propos- 
ed unto  them,  by  both  or  either  of  the  houses  of  Par- 
Hament,  and  to  give  their  advice  and  counsel  therein, 
to  both  or  either  of  the  said  houses,  when,  and  as 
often,  as  they  shall  be  thereunto  required.  Be  it, 
therefore,  ordained,  by  the  Lords  and  Commons  in 
this  present  Parliament  assembled,  that  all  and  every 
the  persons,  hereafter,  in  this  present  ordinance  nam- 
ed; that  is  to  say,  [the  names  were  here  written,]  and 
such  other  person  or  persons  as  shall  be  nominated 
and  appointed  by  both  houses  of  parliament,  or  so 
many  of  them  as  shall  not  be  letted  by  sickness,  or 
other  necessary  impediment,  shall  meet  and  assemble, 
and  are  hereby  required  and  enjoined,  upon  summons 
signed  by  both  houses  of  parliament,  left  at  their  res- 
pective dwellings,  to  meet  and  assemble  themselves, 
at  Westminster,  in  the  chapel,  called  king  Henry  the 
seventh's  chapel,  on  the  first  of  July,  1643,  and  after 
the  first  meeting,  being  at  least  of  the  number  of  forty, 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  sit,  and  be  removed  from 
place  to  place;  and  also,  that  the  said  assembly  shall 
be  dissolved  in  such  manner  as  shall  by  both  houses 
of  Parliament  be  directed;  and  the  said  persons,  or 
so  many  of  them  as  shall  be  so  assembled,  or  sit, 
shall  have  power  and  authority,  and  are  hereby  like- 
wise enjoined,  from  time  to  time,  during  the  present 
Parliament,  or  until  further  order  be  taken  by  both 
the  said  houses,  to  confer  and  treat  among  them- 
selves of  such  matters  and  things,  touching  and  con- 
cerning the  liturgy,  discipline,  and  government  of  the 
church  of  England,  for  the  vindicating  and  clearing 
of  the  doctrine  of  the  same,  from  all  false  aspersions 
and  misconstructions,  as  shall  be  proposed  unto  them 
by  both  or  either  said  houses  of  Parliament,  and  no 
other;  and  deliver  their  opinion,  advices  of, or  touch- 


20  WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 

ing  matters  aforesaid,  as  shall  be  most  agreeable  unto 
the  word  of  God,  to  both  or  either  of  the  houses  from 
time  to  time,  in  such  manner  and  sort,  as  by  both  or 
either  of  the  said  houses  of  Parliament  shall  be  re- 
quired: and  the  same  not  to  divulge,  by  printing, 
wrhing,  or  otherwise,  without  the  consent  of  both  or 
either  house  of  Parliament. 

*'  And  be  it  further  ordained,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  William  Twisse,  doctor  in  divinity,  shall  sit 
in  the  chair,  as  prolocutor  of  the  said  assembly;  and 
if  he  happen  to  die,  or  be  letted  by  sickness,  or  other 
necessary  impediment,  then  such  other  person  to  be 
appointed  in  his  place,  as  shall  be  agreed  on  by  the 
said  houses  of  Parliament.  And  in  case  any  differ- 
ence of  opinion  shall  happen  amongst  the  said  persons 
so  assembled,  touching  any  the  matters  that  shall  be 
proposed  to  them  as  aforesaid,  that  then  they  shall 
represent  the  same,  together  with  the  reasons  thereof, 
to  both  or  either  of  the  said  houses,  respectively,  to 
the  end  that  such  further  direction  may  be  given 
therein,  as  shall  be  requisite  to  that  behalf  And  be 
it  further  ordained  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  for 
the  charges  and  expenses  of  the  said  divines,  and 
every  one  of  them,  in  attending  the  said  service,  there 
shall  be  allowed  every  one  of  them  that  shall  so 
attend,  during  the  time  of  their  said  attendance,  and 
for  ten  days  before  and  ten  days  after,  the  sum  of  four 
shillings  for  every  day,  at  the  charges  of  the  com- 
monwealth, at  such  time  and  in  such  manner,  as  by 
both  houses  of  Parliament  shall  be  appointed.  And 
be  it  further  ordained,  that  all  and  every  the  said 
divines,  so,  as  aforesaid,  required  and  enjoined  to  meet 
and  assemble,  shall  be  freed  and  acquitted  of  and 
from  every  offence,  forfeiture,  penalty,  loss,  or  dam- 
age, which  shall  or  may  ensue  or  grow,  by  reason  of 
any  non-residence,  or  absence  of  them,  or  any  of 
them,  from  his  or  their,  or  any  of  their  church, 
churches,  or  cures,  for,  or  in  respect  of  their  said 
attendance  upon  the  said  service;  any  law  or  statute 
of  non-residence,  or  other  law  or  statute  enjoining  their 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  21 

attendance  upon  their  respective  ministries  and  char- 
ges, to  the  contrary  thereof  notwithstanding.  And 
if  any  of  the  said  persons  sliall  happen  to  die  before 
the  said  assembly  shall  be  dissolved  by  order  of  both 
houses  of  Parliament,  then  such  other  person  or  per- 
sons shall  be  placed  in  the  room  and  stead  of  the 
person  or  persons  so  dying,  as  by  both  the  said  houses 
shall  be  thought  fit  and  agreed  upon;  and  every  such 
person  or  persons,  so  to  be  named,  shall  have  the  like 
power  and  authority,  freedom  and  acquittal,  to  all 
intents  and  purposes,  and  also  all  such  wages  and 
allowances  for  the  said  service,  during  the  time  of  his 
or  their  attendance,  as  to  any  other  of  the  said  per- 
sons in  this  ordinance  is  by  this  ordinance  limited  and 
appointed.  Provided  alway,  that  this  ordinance,  or 
any  thing  therein  contained,  shall  not  give  unto  the 
persons  aforesaid,  or  any  of  them,  nor  shall  they  in  this 
assembly  assume  to  exercise  any  jurisdiction,  power, 
or  authority  ecclesiastical,  whatsoever,  or  any  other 
power  than  is  herein  particularly  expressed. "^ 

The  number  of  persons  named  in  the  foregoing* 
ordinance,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty;  thirty  of  whom 
were  lay-assessors;  ten  from  the  house  of  lords,  and 
twenty  from  the  commons.  These,  however,  had  an 
equal  liberty  of  debating  and  voting,  as  the  divines. 

The  names  of  the  members,  as  contained  in  the 
ordinance,  were  as  follows: 

PEERS. 

Algernoon  earl  of  Northumberland. 

William  earl  of  Bedford. 

Philip  earl  of  Pembroke  and  Montgomery. 

William  earl  of  Sahsbury. 

Henry  earl  of  Holland. 

Edward  earl  of  Manchester. 

William  lord  viscount  Say  and  Seal. 

Edward  lord  viscount  Conway. 

Philip  lord  Wharton. 

Edward  lord  Howard  of  Esrick. 

»  See  Rushworth's  Collections. 


22  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

COxMMONERS. 
John  Selden,  esq. 
Francis  Rouse,  esq. 
Edmund  Prideaux,  esq. 
Sir  Henry  Vane  knight  senior. 
Sir  Henry  Vane  knight  junior. 
John  Glynne,  esq.,  recorder  of  London. 
John  White,  esq. 
Bulstrode  Whitlocke,  esq. 
Humphrey  Salway,  esq. 
Oliver  St.  John,  esq. 
Sir  Benjamin  Rudyard,  knight. 
John  Pym,  esq. 
Sir  John  Clotvvorthy,  knight. 
Sir  Thomas  Barrington,  knight. 
WilUam  Wheeler,  esq. 
William  Pierpont,  esq. 
Sir  John  Evelyn,  knight. 
John  Maynard,  esq. 
Mr.  Serjeant  Wild. 
Mr.  Young. 
Sir  Matthew  Hale,  afterwards  lord-chief-justice  of 

the  King's  Bench,  [appeared,  says  Anthony 

Wood,  among  the  lay-assessors.] 

LAY-ASSESSORS  FROM  SCOTLAND. 

Lord  Maitland,  afterwards  duke  Lauderdale. 

E.  Lothian. 

A.  Johnstone,  called  lord  Warristone 

The  following  is  an  alphabetical  list,  from  Neal,  of 
the  divines,  who  were  named  in  the  ordinance  of 
parliament.  But  as  many  never  attended,  and  some 
attended  only  occasionally,  or  for  a  short  time,  those 
who  were  regular  in  their  attendance,  are  distin- 
guished by  a  double  asterisk;  those  whose  attendance 
was  occasional  or  irregular,  with  a  single  asterisk, 
and  those  who  never  made  their  appearance  are  left 
without  any  mark.  And  those  who  were  afterwards 
appointed  to  supply  vacancies,  have  the  word  super- 
added annexed  to  their  names,  respectively. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  23 


ASSEMBLY  OF  DIVINES. 


**  The  Rev.  Dr.  William  Tvvisse,  of  Newbury,  was 
appointed  by  parliament,  prolocutor. 

**  The  Rev.  Dr.  Cornelius  Burges,  of  Watford,  Mr. 
John  White,  of  Dorcester,  A.M.  assessors. 

*  The  Rev.  Mr.  Henry  Roborough,  Mr.  Adoniram 

Byfield,  A.M.  scribes,  but  had  no  votes. 
**  The  Rev.  John  Arrowsmith,  of  Lynne,  afterwards 

D.D.  and  master  of  Peter-House,  Cambridge. 
**  Simeon  Ash,  of  St.  Brides,  or  Basingshaw. 
**  Mr.  Theodore  Backhurst,  of  Overton,  Waterville. 
**  Mr.  Thomas  Bayly,  B.D.  of  Manningford,  Bruce. 
**  Mr.  John  Bond,  a  superadded  divine. 

*  Mr.  Bolton,  superadded. 
**  Mr.  Oliver,  B.D.  of  Sutton. 

**  Mr.  William  Bridge,  A.M.  of  Yarmouth. 

Right  Rev.  Dr.  Ralph  Brownrigge,  bishop  of  Exon. 

Mr.  Richard  Buckley. 
**  Mr.  Anthony  Burges,  A.M.  of  Sutton-Colefield. 
**  Mr.  Jeremiah  Burroughs,  A.M.  of  Stepney. 
**  Mr.  Richard  Byfield,  A.M.  superadded. 
**  Edmund  Calamy,  B.D.  Aldermanbury. 
**  Mr.  Thomas  Case,  Milk-street. 

Mr.  Richard  Capel,  of  Pitchcombe,  A.M. 
**  Mr.  Joseph  Caryl,  A.M.  Lincolns-Inn. 
**  Mr.  William  Carter,  of  London. 
**  Mr.  Thomas  Carter,  of  Oxon. 
**  Mr.  William  Carter,  of  Dynton,  Bucks. 
**  Mr.  John  Cawdrey,  A.M.  St.  Martin's  Fields,  su- 
peradded. 
**  Humphrey  Chaaibers,  D.D.  of  Claverton. 
**  Francis  Cheynel,  D.D.  of  Petworth. 
**  Mr.  Peter  Clarke,  A.M.  of  Carnaby. 
**  Mr.  Richard  Clayton,  of  Showell. 
**  Mr.  Francis  Coke,  of  Yoxall. 
**  Mr.  Thomas  Coleman,  A.M.  of  Bliton. 
**  John  Conant,  of  Lymington,  D.D.  afterwards  arch- 
deacon of  Norwich  and  prebendary  ofWorcester. 
**  Mr.  Edward  Corbet,  A.M.  Merton-college,  Oxon. 


24 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


*  Robert  Crosse,  D.D.  afterwards  Vicar  of  Chew, 

Somerset. 
**  Mr.  Philip  Dehne,  superadded. 
Mr.  Thomas  DilUnghamj  of  Dean, 

*  CaUbute  Downing,  D.D.  of  Hackney. 
Mr.  WiUiam  Dunning,  of  Godalston. 

**  The  Reverend  Mr.  John  Drury,  superadded. 
Mr.  Edward  ElUs,  B.D.  Oilfield. 
Mr.  John  Erie,  of  Bishopstowne. 

*  Daniel  Featley,  D.D.  of  Lambeth. 

**  Mr.  Thomas  Ford,  A.M.  superadded. 
**  Mr.  John  Foxcroft,  of  Gotham. 

Mr.  Hannibal  Gammon,  A.M.  of  Cornwall. 
**  Thomas  Gataker,  B.D.  Rotherhithe. 
**  Mr.  Samuel  Gibson,  of  Burleigh. 
**  Mr.  John  Gibbon,  of  Walthara. 
**  Mr.  George  Gippes,  of  Aylston. 
**  Thomas  Goodwin,  D.D.  of  London,  afterwards  pre- 
sident of  Magdalen-college,  Oxon. 
**  Mr.  William  Goad,  superadded. 
**  Mr.  Stanley  Gower,  of  Brampton-Bryan. 
**  William  Gouge,  D.D.  of  Blackfriars. 
**  Mr.  William  Greenhill,  of  Stepney. 
**  Mr.  Green,  of  Pentecomb. 

John  Hacket,  D.D.  of  St.  Andrews,  Holborn,  after- 
wards bishop  of  Litchfield. 

Henry  Hammond,  D.D.  of  Penshurst,  Kent. 
**  Mr.  Henry  Hall,  B.D.  Norwich. 
**  Mr.  Humphrey  Hardwicke,  superadded. 

*  John  Harris,  D.D.  prebendary  of  Winchester, war- 

den of  Wickham. 

**  Robert  Harris,  D.D.  of  Hanwell,  president  of  Tri- 
nity college,  Oxon. 

**  Mr.  Charles  Herle,  A.  M.Winwick,  afterwards  pro- 
locutor. 

**  Mr.  Richard  Heyrick,  A.M.  of  Manchester. 

**  Thomas  Hill,  D.D.  of  Tichmarsh,  afterward  master 
of  Trinity  college,  Cambridge. 

*  Samuel  Hildersham,  B.D.  of  Felton. 
**  Mr.  Jasper  Hickes,  A.M.  of  Lawrick. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  25 

*"*  Mr.  Thomas  Hodges,  B.D.  of  Kensington. 

Richard  Holdsworth,  D.D.  master  of  Emanuel  col- 
lege, Cambridge. 
**  Joshua  Hoyle,  D.D.  of  Dublin,  Ireland. 

Mr.  Henry  Hutton. 
**  Mr.  John  Jackson,  A.M.  of  Queen's  college,  Cam- 
bridge. 

*  Mr  Johnson. 

Mr.  Lance,  Harrow,  Middlesex. 
**  Mr.  John  Langley,  of  West  Tuderley,  prebendary, 

Gloucester. 
**  Mr.  John  Ley,  A.M.  Great  Budworth. 
**  The  Reverend  John  Lightfoot,  D.D.  of  Ashby, 

master  of  Catharine-house. 

*  Richard  Love,  D.D.  of  Ekington. 

*  Mr.  Christopher  J^ove,  A.M.  superadded. 
Mr.  William  Lyford,  A.M.  Sherbourne. 

*  Mr.  John  de  la  March,  minister  of  French  church. 
^"^  Mr.  Stephen  Marshal,  B.D.  of  Finchingfield. 

*  Mr.  William  Massam,  superadded. 
Mr.  John  Maynard,  A.M.  superadded. 

*""  Mr.  WiUiam  Mew,  B.D.  of  Essiugton. 
^"^  Mr.  Thomas  Micklethwait,  Cheriburton. 

George  Morley,  D.D.  afterwards  bishop  of  Win- 
chester. 

Mr.  William  Moreton,  Newcastle. 

*  Mr.  Moore. 

**  Mr.  Matthew  Newcomon,  Dedham. 

*  Mr.  William  Newscore,  superadded. 

William   Nicholson,    D.D.    afterwards   bishop  of 
Gloucester. 

Mr.  Henry  Nye,  of  Clapham. 
**  Mr.  Philip  Nye,  of  Kimbolton. 

Mr.  Herbert  Palmer,  B.D.  Ashwell,  afterwards 
assessor. 

Mr.  Henry  Painter,  of  Exeter. 

Mr.  Christer  Parkly,  of  Hawarden. 
**  Mr.  Edward  Peale,  of  Compton. 
**  Mr.  Andrew  Pern,of  Wilby,  Northampton. 
**  Mr.  John  Philips,  W^rentham. 
**  Mr.  Benjamin  Pickering,  East-Hoatley. 


26 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


*  Mr.  Samuel  de  la  Place,  minister  of  French  church. 
**  Mr.  William  Price,  of  St.  Paul's  Covent-Garden. 

John  Prideaux,  D.D.  bishop  of  Worcester. 
**  Mr.  Nicholas  Proffet,  of  Marlborough. 

Mr.  John  Pyne,  Bereferrars. 
**  Mr.  William  Rathband,  of  Highgate. 
**  Mr.  William  Reyner,  B.  D.  of  Egham. 
**  Edward  Reynolds,  of  Brampton,  D.D.  afterwards 

bishop  of  Norwich. 
**  Mr.  Arthur  Salway,  Severn  Stoke. 

Robert  Saunderson,  D.D.  afterwards  bishop  of  Lin- 
coln. 
**  Mr.  Henry  Scudder,  of  Colingbourne. 
**  Lazarus  Seaman,  B.D.  of  London,  master  of  Pe- 

terhouse,  Cambridge. 
**  Mr.  Obadiah  Sedgwick,  B.  D.  Coggeshall. 

Mr.  Josias  Shute,  B.D.  Lombard-street. 
**  The  Reverend  Mr.  Sydrach  Sympson,  London. 
*^  Peter  Smith,  D.D.  of  Barkway. 
**  WiUiam  Spurstow,  D.D.  of  Hampden. 
**  Edmund  Staunton,  D.D.  of  Kingston. 
**  Mr.  Peter  Sterry,  London. 

**  Mr.  John   Strickland,  B.D.  New  Sarum,  super- 
added. 
**  Matthew  Styles,  D.D.  Eastcheap. 

*  Mr.  Strong,  Westminster,  superadded. 
**  Mr.  Francis  Taylor,  A.M.  Yalding. 
**  Thomas  Temple,  D.D.  of  Battersea. 

**  Mr.  Thomas  Thoroughgood,  Massingham. 
**  Mr.  Christopher  Tisdale,  Uphurstbourne. 

*  Mr.  Henry  Tozer,  B.D.  Oxon. 

**  Anthoney  Tuckney,  D.D.  of  Boston,  afterwards 

master  of  St.  John's  college,  Oxon,  and  Regius 

professor. 
**  Mr.    Thomas    Valentine,    B.D.    Chalfort,   Saint 

Giles's. 
**  Mr.  Richard  Vines,  A.M.  of  Calcot,  master  of 

Pembroke-house,  Cambridge. 
The  most  Reverend  Dr.  James  Usher,  archbishop 

of  Armagh. 
**  Mr  George  Walker,  B.D.  of  St.  John  Evans. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY  27 

Samuel   Ward,   D.D.   master  of   Sidney  college, 
Cambridge. 
**  Mr.  John  Wallis,  afterwards  D.D.  and  scribe. 
**  Mr.  John  Ward,  superadded. 

Mr.  James  Welby,  Sylatten. 

*  Thomas  Westfield,  D'D.  bishop  of  Bristol. 
**  Mr.  Jeremiah  Whitaker,  A.M.  Stretton. 

Mr.  Francis  Whiddon  Moreton. 
**  Henry  Wilkinson,  senior,  D.D.  Waddesdon,  after- 
wards Margaret  professor,  Oxon. 
**  Mr.  Henry  Wilkinson,  junior,  B.D.  St.  Dunstan's. 
**  Mr  Thomas  Wilson,  Otham. 

*  Thomas  Wincop,  D.D.  Elesworth. 

**  John  Wincop,  D.D.  St.  Martin's  in  the  Fields. 
**  Mr.  Francis  Woodcock,  proctor  of  the  University 

of  Cambridge. 
**  Mr.  Thomas  Young,  Stow-market. 

MINISTERS  FROM  SCOTLAND. 

^*  Mr  Alexander  Henderson. 
**  Mr.  George  Gillespie. 
**  Mr.  Samuel  Rutherford. 
**  Mr.  Robert  Bayley. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Assembly  opened — Rules  of  proceeding-- — Solemn  oath  of  the 
members — Assembly  divided  into  three  committees — Revision- of 
the  Articles  undertaken — Description  of  the  room  and  manner  of 
sitting,  and  of  transacting  business. 

The  first  day  of  July,  1643,  having  been  appointed 
for  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  the  members  of  the 
two  houses  of  Parliament,  named  in  the  ordinance, 
and  many  of  the  divines  named  in  the  same  instru- 
ment, and  a  great  congregation  beside,  being  met  in 
the  Abbey  Church,  in  Westminster,  Dr.  Twisse,  the 
appointed  prolocutor,  preached  to  them,  from  John 
xiv.  IS.  ^'  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless.'^ 

After  sermon,  all   the  members  of  the  Assembly 


28 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


went  into  Henry  the  Seventh's  chapel,  where  the 
names  of  the  members  being  called,  sixty  three  an- 
swered; or  about  that  number. 

Not  being  ready  to  proceed  to  business,  the  As- 
sembly adjourned  till  Thursday,  July  6th,  when  they 
received  from  Parliament  a  set  of  rules  for  the  direc- 
tion and  government  of  the  body;  which  are  as  fol- 
lows: 

"1.  That  two  assessors  be  joined  to  the  prolocu- 
tor, to  supply  his  place  in  case  of  absence  or  in- 
firmity. 

"2.  That  scribes  be  appointed  to  set  down  all  pro- 
ceedings; and  these  to  be  divines  who  are  not  of  the 
Assembly.  The  persons  selected  were,  Henry  Robo- 
rough,  and  Adoniram  Byfield. 

"  3.  Every  member,  at  his  first  entry  into  the  As- 
sembly, shall  make  serious  and  solemn  protestation, 
not  to  maintain  any  thing  but  what  he  believes  to  be 
the  truth,  in  sincerity,  when  discovered  unto  him. 

"4.  No  resolution  to  be  given  upon  any  question, 
the  same  day  wherein  it  is  first  propounded. 

"5.  What  any  man  undertakes  to  prove  as  ne- 
cessary, he  shall  make  good  out  of  Scripture. 

"  6.  No  man  to  proceed  in  any  dispute  after  the 
prolocutor  has  enjoined  him  silence,  unless  the  As- 
sembly desire  he  may  go  on. 

"  7.  No  man  to  be  denied  to  enter  his  dissent  from 
the  Assembly,  and  his  reasons  for  it,  in  any  point,  af- 
ter it  haih  been  first  debated  in  the  Assembly,  and 
thence  (if  the  dissenting  party  desire  it)  to  be  sent  to 
the  houses  of  Parliament  by  the  Assembly,  not  by 
any  particular  man  or  men  in  a  private  way — when 
either  house  shall  require. 

"8.  All  things  agreed  upon  and  prepared  for  the 
Parliament,  to  be  openly  read  and  allowed  in  the 
Assembly,  and  then  offered  as  the  judgment  of  the 
Assembly,  if  the  major  part  assent.  Provided,  that 
the  opinions  of  any  persons  dissenting,  and  the  rea- 
sons urged  for  it,  be  annexed  thereunto,  if  the  dissen- 
ters require  it,  together  with  the  solutions,  if  any  were 
given,  by  the  Assembly,  to  these  reasons." 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  29 

On  Saturday,  July  Sth,  the  prescribed  protestation 
was  taken  by  every  member  of  the  body,  Lords  and 
Common?,  as  well  as  divines.  It  was  in  the  following 
words,  viz : 

"I.  A.  B.  do  seriously  and  solemnly  protest,  in  the 
presence  of  Almighty  God,  that  in  this  Assembly, 
whereof  I  am  a  member,  I  will  not  maintain  any 
thing  in  matters  of  doctrine,  but  what  I  think  in  my 
conscience  to  be  truth;  or,  in  point  of  discipline,  but 
what  I  shall  conceive  to  conduce  most  to  the  glory  of 
God,  and  the  good  and  peace  of  his  church.^'  This 
formula  was  also  put  into  the  hands  of  each  mem- 
ber. 

The  first  thing  done  further,  was,  to  divide  the 
whole  body  into  three  committees.  In  forming  these 
the  divines  vv'ere  arranged  as  their  names  stood  in  the 
ordinance  of  Parliament:  and  the  members  from  the 
Lords  and  Commons  into  three  several  parts,  accord- 
ing to  their  order,  also. 

The  thirty-nine  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England 
were  now  resolved  to  be  brought  under  consideration, 
and  the  first,  second,  third,  and  fourth  of  these  Arti- 
cles were  assigned  to  the  first  committee,  who  were  to 
meet  in  Henry  the  Seventh's  Chapel. 

The  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  articles  were  assigned 
to  the  Second  Committee,  whose  place  of  meeting 
was  appointed,  in  the  room  used  by  the  lower  house 
of  Convocation. 

The  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth  articles  were  assigned 
to  the  Third  Committee,  and  their  meeting  to  be  in 
Jerusalem  Chamber,  in  the  Dean's  lodgings. 

Their  first  meeting  Vv^as  to  be  of  all  the  committees, 
in  their  several  places,  on  Monday,  July  10,  at  one 
o'clock,  P.  M. 

Mr.  John  White,  of  Dorchester,  and  ]Mr,  Cornelius 
Burgess  were  nominated  assessors,  in  case  of  the  sick- 
ness or  absence  of  the  prolocutor. 

A  Committee  was  also  appointed  from  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Lords  and  Commons,  and  from  the  di- 
vines, to  look  out  for  the  most  authentic  copies  of  the 

THIRTY-NINE  ARTICLES. 


30  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

The  committees  having  respectively  met  at  the 
places  and  time  appointed,  proceeded  to  the  choice  of 
chairman,  when  Dr.  Burgess  was  appointed  chairman 
of  the  first,  Dr.  Stanton  of  the  second,  and  Mr.  Gib- 
bon of  the  third  committee. 

As  it  was  doubted,  whether  by  the  rules,  the  pro- 
locutor had  the  liberty  of  speaking,  a  resolution  was 
proposed  and  adopted,  "  That  he  should  speak,  and 
give  his  advice  when  he  should  think  fit." 

It  may  be  gratifying  to  the  reader  to  have  some 
particular  description  of  the  room  which  the  Assem- 
bly occupied,  and  of  the  manner  in  which  the  mem- 
bers were  arranged  in  their  respective  seats.  This 
we  shall  copy  from  the  accurate  Baillie.  "  At  the 
upper  end  of  the  room,"  says  he,  "  there  is  a  chair 
set  on  a  frame,  a  foot  from  the  earth,  for  the  prolo- 
cutor. Dr.  Twisse.  Before  it,  on  the  ground,  stand 
two  chairs,  for  the  two  Mr.  assessors.  Dr.  Burgess, 
and  Dr.  White.  Before  these  two  chairs,  through 
the  length  of  the  room,  stands  a  table,  at  which  sit 
the  two  scribes,  Mr.  Byfield  and  Mr.  Roborongh. 
The  house  is  all  well  hung,  and  has  a  good  fire, 
which  is  some  dainties  at  London.  Foreanent  the 
table,  upon  the  prolocutor's  right  hand,  there  are 
three  or  four  ranks  of  forms.  On  the  lowest  one  five 
do  sit.  Upon  the  other,  at  our  backs,  the  members 
of  Parliament  deputed  to  the  Assembly.  On  the 
forms  foreanent  us,  on  the  prolocutor's  left  hand, 
going  from  the  upper  end  of  the  house  to  the  chim- 
ney, and  at  the  other  end  of  the  house,  and  backside 
of  the  table  till  it  came  to  our  seats,  are  four  or  five 
stages  of  forms,  whereupon  their  divines  sit  as  they 
please;  albeit,  commonly  they  keep  the  same  place. 
From  the  chimney  to  the  door  there  are  no  seats,  but 
a  void  for  a  passage.  The  lords  of  Parliament  use 
to  sit  on  chairs  in  that  void,  about  the  fire.  We  meet 
every  day  of  the  week,  except  Saturday.  We  sit 
commonly  from  nine  to  two  or  three  in  the  afternoon. 
The  prolocutor,  at  the  beginning  and  end,  has  a  short 
prayer.  The  man,  as  the  world  knows,  is  very  learn- 
ed in  the  questions  he  has  studied;  and  very  good, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  31 

and  beloved  of  all,  and  highly  esteemed;  but  merely 
bookish,  and  not  much  as  it  seems,  acquaint  with  con- 
ceived prayer;  among  the  unfittestof  all  the  company 
for  any  action;  so  after  the  prayer  he  sits  mute.     It 
was  the  canny  conveyance  (contrivance?)  of  those 
who  guide  most  matters  for  their  own  interest,  to 
plant  such  a  man  of  purposes  in  the  chair.     The  one 
assessor,  our  good  friend  Dr.  Burgess,  a  very  active 
and  sharp  man,  supplies  so  far  as  it  is  decent,  the 
prolocutor's  place:   the  other,  our  good  friend  Mr. 
Whyte,  has  kept  in  of  the  gout,  since  our  coming. 
Ordinarily  there  will  be  present  about  three  score  of 
their  divines.     These  are  divided  into  three  commit- 
tees; in  one  whereof,  every  man  is  a  member.     No 
man  is  excluded  who  pleases  to  come  to  any  of  the 
three.     Every  committee,   as   the  Parliament  gives 
order  in  writ  to  take  any  purpose  to  consideration, 
takes  a  portion,  and  in  (he  afternoon  meeting  pre- 
pares  matters   for   the   Assembly:   sets   down   their 
minds  in  distinct  propositions,  and  backs  their  propo- 
sitions with  texts  of  Scripture.    After  the  prayer,  Mr. 
Byfield,  the  scribe,  reads  the  proposition  and  Scrip- 
tures, whereupon  the  Assembly  debates  in  a  most 
grave  and   orderly  way.     No  man  is  called  up  to 
speak  but  who  stands  up  of  his  own  accord.     He 
speaks  so  long  as  he  will  without  interruption.     If 
two  or  three  stand  up  at  once,  then  the  divines  con- 
fusedly call  on  his  name  whom  they  desire  to  hear 
first.     On  whom  the  loudest  and  maniest  voices  call, 
he  speaks.     No  man  speaks  to  any  but  to  the  prolo- 
cutor.     They   harangue   long   and   very   learnedly. 
They  study  the  question  well  beforehand,  and  pre- 
pare their  speeches;  but  withal,  the  men  are  exceed- 
ing prompt,  and  well  spoken.     I   do  marvel  at  the 
very  accurate  and  extemporal  replies  that  many  of 
them  usually  make.     When  upon  every  proposition, 
and  on  every  text  of  Scripture  that  is  brought  to  con- 
firm it,  every  man  who  will  has  said  his  whole  mind, 
and  the  replies,  and  duplies,  and  triplies,  are  heard, 
then  the  most  part  calls  to  the  question.    Byfield,  the 
scribe,  rises  from  the  table,  and  comes  to  the  prolo- 


32 


WEST3IIXSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


cutor's  chair,  who,  from  the  scribe's  book  reads  the 
proposition,  and  says,  as  many  as  are  in  opinion  that 
the  question  is  well  stated  in  the  proposition,  let  them 
say  /(aye,)  when  aye  is  heard,  he  says,  as  many  as 
think  otherwise,  say  no.  If  the  difference  of  ayes  and 
noes  is  clear,  as  it  usually  is,  then  the  question  is 
ordered  by  the  scribes,  and  they  go  on  to  debate  the 
first  Scripture  alleged  for  proof  of  the  proposition.  If 
the  sounds  of  aye  and  no  be  nearly  equal,  then  says 
the  prolocutor,  as  many  as  say  aye,  stand  up;  while 
they  stand,  the  scribe  and  others,  number  them  in 
their  minds.  When  they  are  set  down,  the  7ioes  are 
bidden  to  stand,  and  they  likewise  are  numbered. 
This  way  is  clear  enough,  and  saves  a  great  deal  of 
time  which  we  spend  in  reading  our  catalogue.  When 
a  question  is  once  ordered,  there  is  then  no  more  of 
that  matter;  but  if  a  man  will  deviate,  he  is  quickly 
taken  up  by  Mr.  assessor,  many  others  confusedly 
cxy'm%,^  speak  to  order.''  No  man  contradicts  another 
expressly  by  name,  but  most  discreetly  speaks  to  the 
prolocutor;  and  at  most,  holds  on  the  general,  'The 
reverend  brother  who  lately,  or  who  last  spoke,  on 
this  hand,  or  that  side,  above,  or  below.'  " 

From  the  preceding  minute  description  of  the 
method  of  transacting  business,  the  reader  will  be 
able  to  compare  the  order  of  this  ancient  and  venera- 
ble Assembly  with  the  rules  of  proceeding  adopted  in 
our  ecclesiastical  bodies. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Deleg-ation  from  Parliament  and  the  Assembly  to  Scotland — Solemn 
League  and  Covenant — Commissioners  chosen  to  go  to  the  West- 
minster Assembly — Their  Commission — Reception  of  the  Commis- 
sioners— They  decline  sitting  as  members. 

The  English  Parliament  having  it  much  at  heart  to 
secure  the  co-operation  of  the  Scottish  nation,  in  pro- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  33 

moting  the  reformation  in  the  church  which  they 
contemplated,  and  to  promote  which  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  was  convened,  resolved  to  send  commission- 
ers to  Scotland  to  negociate  such  an  agreement  as 
they  might  be  able  to  effect,  with  a  view  to  the  end 
before  mentioned. 

The  persons  selected  for  this  embassy,  were,  the 
Earl  of  Rutland,  Sir  William  Armyn,  Sir  H.  Vane, 
Mr.  Hatcher,  and  Mr.  Darley.  And  from  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines,  Mr.  Marshall,  and  Mr.  Nye  were 
chosen  to  accompany  the  aforesaid  noblemen  and 
gentlemen.  These  commissioners  were  the  bearers 
of  a  letter  from  the  English  Parliament,  setting  forth 
the  deplorable  condition  of  the  Kingdom  of  England, 
which,  they  said,  was  upon  the  verge  of  a  most 
desperate  precipice;  ready  to  be  swallowed  up  by 
Satan  and  his  instruments.  They  also  represented 
the  cruelty  of  their  enemies  against  all  who  fell  into 
their  hands,  being  armed  against  them  not  only  as 
men,  but  as  Christians,  as  Protestants,  and  as  refor- 
mers; and  that  if  they  should  be  given  up  to  their 
rage,  they  feared  that  it  would  endanger  the  safety  of 
all  Protestant  churches.  "Under  a  deeper  sense  of 
this  danger,"  say  they,  "  than  we  can  express,  we  ad- 
dress you  in  the  bowels  of  Christ,  for  your  most  fer- 
vent prayers  and  advice,  for  the  making  of  our  own 
and  the  Kingdom's  peace  with  God,  and  for  uniting 
the  Protestant  party  more  firmly,  that  we  all  may 
serve  God  with  one  consent,  and  stand  up  against 
antichrist,  as  one  man.'' 

Before  the  arrival  of  the  English  commissioners, 
the  Scots  had  appointed,  "A  Convention  of  Estates,'' 
for  securing  the  country  against  the  royal  army  in 
the  north;  and  a  General  Assembly  of  the  Kirk  of 
Scotland  had  also  been  called,  to  meet  in  Edinburgh, 
on  the  2d  of  August.  The  English  commissioners 
were  sent  to  both  these  bodies,  by  whom  they  were 
cordially  and  respectfully  received.  One  object  of 
their  mission  was,  to  induce  the  General  Assembly  of 
Scotland  to  delegate  a  certain  number  of  their  most 

3 


34 


WEST3IINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


able  divines,  to  join  the  Assembly  at  Westminster, 
and  to  aid  that  venerable  bod\^  in  promoting  a  re- 
formation in  the  church  ot  England,  and  also  to  bring 
about  a  uniformity  in  doctrine  and  church  govern- 
ment, between  the  two  nations.  It  was  therefore 
proposed  as  a  preliminary  to  further  negociation,  that 
the  two  nations  should  enter  into  a  perpetual  cove- 
nant, for  themselves  and  their  posterity;  that  all 
things  might  be  done  in  God's  house,  according  to 
his  will.  In  pursuance  of  this  proposal,  the  General 
Assembly  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the 
English  commissioners  on  the  subject  of  a  suitable 
form  of  league  and  covenant,  to  be  mutually  and 
solemnly  agreed  upon,  by  both  nations.  The  com- 
mittee who  had  this  matter  in  charge,  presented  the 

form     of    A    SOLEMN    LEAGUE    AND    COVENANT,    tO    the 

Assembly,  on  the  17th  of  August,  1643,  where  it  was 
read  and  highly  approved  by  all,  except  the  King's 
commissioner.  This  important  document,  which 
makes  so  great  a  figure  in  the  history  of  those  times, 
is  said  to  have  been  composed  by  that  remarkable 
man,  Alexander  Henderson,  of  whose  character 
and  conduct,  we  shall  liave  much  to  say,  in  the  sequel 
of  this  history. 

This  document  having  received  the  unanimous 
approbation  of  the  members  of  the  General  Assembly, 
was  immediately  transmitted  to  the  "  Convention  of 
Estates,"  and  received  also  the  sanction  of  that  body, 
in  the  same  day.  And  as  a  most  ardent  desire  to 
consummate  this  union,  was  felt  in  Scotland,  the  very 
next  morning  the  solemn  League  and  Covenant  was 
despatched  to  the  English  Parliament,  by  a  special 
messenger,  that  it  might,  without  delay,  be  solemnly 
confirmed  and  sworn  by  both  nations,  as  the  surest 
and  strictest  band  of  obligation,  to  make  them  stand 
or  fall  together,  in  the  cause  of  religion  and  liberty. 

As  this  instrument  had  a  mighty  influence  on  the 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  those  two  kingdoms, 
it  is  proper  to  insert  it  entire,  in  this  place. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  35 

"A  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  for  Reformation  and 
Defence  of  Religion,  the  Honour  and  Happiness  of 
the  King,  and  the  Peace  and  Safety  of  the  Three 
Kingdoms  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland. 
"We  Noblemen,  Barons,  Knights, Gentlemen,  Citi- 
zens, Burgesses,  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  and  Com- 
mons of  all  sorts,  in  the  kingdoms  of  England,  Scot- 
land, and  Ireland,  by  the  providence  of  God,  living 
under  one  King,  and  being  of  one  reformed  religion, 
having  before  our  eyes  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  the  honour  and  happiness  of  the  King's 
Majesty,  and  his  posterity,  and  the  true  public  liber- 
ty, safety,  and  peace  of  the  kingdoms,  wherein  every 
one's  private  condition  is  included:  And  calling  to 
mind  the  treacherous  and  bloody  plots,  conspiracies, 
attempts,  and  practices  of  the  enemies  of  God,  against 
the  true  religion  and  professors  thereof  in  all  places, 
especially  in  these  three  kingdoms,  ever  since  the  re- 
formation of  religion;  and  how  much  their  rage,  pow- 
er, and  presumption  are  of  late,  and  at  this  time,  in- 
creased and  exercised,  whereof  the  deplorable  estate  of 
the  church  and  kingdom  of  Ireland,  the  distressed  es- 
tate of  the  church  and  kingdom  of  England,  and  the 
dangerous  estate  of  the  church  and  kingdom  of  Scot- 
land, are  present  and  public  testimonies;  we  have 
now  at  last,  (after  other  means  of  supplication,  re- 
monstrance, protestations,  and  sufferings,)  for  the  pre- 
servation of  our  lives  and  our  religion  from  utter 
ruin  and  destruction,  according  to  the  commendable 
practice  of  these  kingdoms  in  former  times,  and  the 
example  of  God's  people  in  other  nations,  after  ma- 
ture deliberation,  resolved  and  determined  to  enter 
into  a  mutual  and  solemn  League  and  Covenant, 
wherein  we  all  subscribe,  and  each  one  of  us  for  him- 
self, with  our  hands  lifted  up  to  the  most  High  God, 
do  swear, 

^*I.  That  we  shall  sincerely,  really,  and  constantly, 
through  the  grace  of  God,  endeavour,  in  our  several 
places  and  callings,  the  preservation  of  the  reformed 
religion  in  the  Church  of  Scotland,  in  doctrine,  wor- 


36  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

ship,  discipline,  and  government,  against  our  common 
enemies;  the  reformation  of  religion  in  the  kingdoms 
of  England  and  Ireland,  in  doctrine,  worship  disci- 
pline, and  government,  according  to  the  word  of  God, 
and  the  example  of  the  hest  reformed  Churches;  and 
we  shall  endeavour  to  bring  the  Church  of  God  in  the 
three  kingdoms  to  the  nearest  conjunction  and  uni- 
formity in  religion,  confessing  of  faith,  form  of  church- 
govertiment,  directory  for  worship  and  catechising; 
that  we,  and  our  posterity  after  us,  may,  as  brethren, 
live  in  faith  and  love,  and  the  Lord  may  delight  to 
dwell  in  the  midst  of  us. 

'•II.  That  we  shall,  in  like  manner,  without  respect 
of  persons,  endeavour  the  extirpation  of  Popery,  Pre- 
lacy, (that  is,  church  government  by  Archbishops, 
Bishops,  their  Chancellors,  and  Commissaries,  Deans, 
Deans  and  Chapters,  Archdeacons,  and  all  other  eccle- 
siastical Officers  depending  on  that  hierarchy,)  super- 
stition, heresy,  schism,  profaneness,  and  whatsoever 
shall  be  found  to  be  contrary  to  sound  doctrine  and 
the  power  of  godliness,  lest  we  partake  in  other  men's 
sins,  and  thereby  be  in  danger  to  receive  of  their 
plagues;  and  that  the  Lord  may  be  one,  and  his  name 
one,  in  the  three  kingdoms. 

*'III.  We  shall,  with  the  same  reality,  sincerity, and 
constancy,  in  our  several  vocations,  endeavour,  with 
our  estates  and  lives,  mutually  to  preserve  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  the  Parliaments,  and  the  liberties  of 
the  kingdoms;  and  to  preserve  and  defend  the  King's 
Majesty's  person  and  authority,  in  the  preservation 
and  defence  of  the  true  religion  and  liberties  of  the 
kingdoms;  that  the  world  may  bear  witness  with  our 
consciences  of  our  loyalty,  and  that  we  have  no 
thoughts  or  intentions  to  diminish  his  Majesty's  just 
power  and  greatness. 

"  IV.  We  shall  also,  with  all  faithfulness,  endeavour 
the  discovery  of  all  such  as  have  been  or  shall  be  in- 
cendiaries, mahgnants,  or  evil  instruments,  by  hinder- 
ing the  reformation  of  religion,  dividing  the  King 
from  his  people,  or  one  of  the  kingdoms  from  another, 
or  making  any  factions  or  parties  among  the  people, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


37 


contrary  to  the  League  and  Covenant;  that  they  may 
be  brought  to  pubhc  trial,  and  receive  condign  pun- 
ishment, as  the  degree  of  their  offences  shall  require 
or  deserve,  or  the  supreme  judicatories  of  both  king- 
doms respectively,  or  others  having  power  from  them 
for  that  effect,  shall  judge  convenient. 

"  V.  And  whereas  the  happiness  of  a  blessed  peace 
between  these  kingdoms,  denied  in  former  times  to 
our  progenitors,  is,  by  the  good  providence  of  God, 
granted  unto  us,  and  has  been  lately  concluded  and 
settled  by  both  Parliaments;  we  shall  each  one  of  us, 
according  to  our  places  and  interests,  endeavour  that 
they  may  remain  conjoined  in  a  firm  peace  and  union 
to  all  posterity;  and  that  justice  may  be  done  on  all 
the  wilful  opposers  thereof,  in  manner  expressed  in 
the  precedent  articles. 

"VI.  We  shall  also,  according  to  our  places  and 
callings,  in  this  common  cause  of  religion,  liberty, 
and  peace  of  the  kingdoms,  assist  and  defend  all  those 
that  enter  into  this  League  and  Covenant,  in  the 
maintaining  and  pursuing  thereof;  and  shall  not  suf- 
fer ourselves,  directly  or  indirectly,  by  whatsoever 
combination,  persuasion,  or  terror,  to  be  divided  and 
withdrawn  from  this  blessed  union  and  conjunction, 
whether  to  make  defection  to  the  contrary  part,  or 
give  ourselves  to  a  detestable  indifferency  or  neutral- 
ity in  this  cause  which  so  much  concerneth  the  glory 
of  God,  the  good  of  the  kingdoms,  and  honour  of  the 
King;  but  shall,  all  the  days  of  our  lives,  zealously 
and  constantly  continue  therein  against  all  opposition, 
and  promote  the  same,  according  to  our  power,  against 
all  lets  and  impediments  whatsoever;  and,  what  we 
are  not  able  ourselves  to  suppress  or  overcome,  we 
shall  reveal  and  make  known,  that  it  may  be  timely 
prevented  or  removed. 

"  And  because  these  kingdoms  are  guilty  of  many 
sins  and  provocations  against  God,  and  his  Son,  Jesus 
Christ,  as  is  too  manifest  by  our  present  distresses 
and  dangers,  the  fruits  thereof;  we  profess  and  de- 
clare, before  God  and  the  world,  our  unfeigned  desire 


38 


WESTMINSTER     ASSEMBLY. 


to  be  humbled  for  our  own  sins,  and  for  the  sins  of 
these  kingdoms:  especially,  that  we  have  not  as  we 
ought  valued  the  inestimable  benefit  of  the  gospel; 
that  Ave  have  not  laboured  for  the  purity  and  power 
thereof;  and  that  we  have  not  endeavoured  to  re- 
ceive Christ  in  our  hearts,  nor  to  walk  worthy 
of  him  in  our  lives;  which  are  the  cause  of  other 
sins  and  transgressions  so  much  abounding  amongst 
us;  and  our  true  and  unfeigned  purpose,  desire,  and 
endeavour  for  ourselves,  and  all  others  under  our 
charge,  both  in  public  and  private,  in  all  duties  we 
owe  to  God  and  man,  to  amend  our  lives,  and  each 
one  to  go  before  another  in  the  example  of  a  real  re- 
formation; that  the  Lord  may  turn  away  his  wrath 
and  heavy  indignation,  and  establish  these  churches 
and  kingdoms  in  truth  and  peace.  And  this  Cove- 
nant we  make  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  the 
Searcher  of  all  hearts,  with  a  true  intention  to  perform 
the  same,  as  we  shall  answer  at  that  great  day,  when 
the  secrets  of  all  hearts  shall  be  disclosed;  most  humbly 
beseeching  the  Lord  to  strengthen  us  by  his  Holy 
Spirit  for  this  end,  and  to  bless  our  desires  and  pro- 
ceedings with  such  success,  as  may  be  a  deliverance 
and  safety  to  his  people,  and  encouragement  to  the 
Christian  churches,  groaning  under,  or  in  danger  of, 
the  yoke  of  antichristian  tyranny,  to  join  in  the  same 
or  like  attestation  and  covenant,  to  the  glory  of  God, 
the  enlargement  of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
the  peace  and  tranquillity  of  Christian  kingdoms  and 
commonwealths." 

The  General  Assembly  and  Convention  of  Estates, 
having  so  cordially  and  unanimously  adopted  the 
solemn  league  and  covenant,  and  having  sent  it  to 
the  parliament  of  England  for  their  approbation,  pro- 
ceeded now  to  choose  commissioners  to  attend  the 
Assembly  of  Divines,  convened  at  Westminster. 
Whereupon,  the  following  persons  were  appointed: 
The  earl  of  Lothian,  Archibald  Johnston,  afterwards 
lord  Warriston,  and  lord  Maitland,  afterward  lord 
Lauderdale.     These  were  denominated  lay -assessors. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  39 

The  ministers  appointed  on  this  commission,  were 
Alexander  Henderson,  Samuel  Rutherford,  George 
Gillespie,  Robert  BailUe,  and  Robert  Douglas. 

To  these  commissioners,  the  following  commission 
and  instructions  were  given: 

'^  Jlssemhly ^  Edinhurgh,  Jiug.  19,  1643,  Session  14. 

"  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  some  mi- 
nisters and  ruling  elders,  for  repairing  to  the  king- 
dom of  England. 

"  The  General  Assembly  of  the  church  of  Scotland, 
finding  it  necessary  to  send  some  godly  and  learned 
of  this  kirk  to  the  kingdom  of  England,  to  the  effect 
underwritten,  therefore,  gives  full  power  and  com- 
mission, to  Mr.  Alexander  Henderson,  Mr.  Samuel 
Rutherford,  Mr.  Robert  Baillie,  Mr.  Robert  Douglas, 
Mr.  George  Gillespie,  John,  earl  of  Cassilis,  John, 
lord  Maitland,  and  Sir  Archibald  Johnston,  of  Warris- 
ton,  elders,  or  any  three  of  them,  whereof  two  shall  be 
ministers,  to  repair  to  the  kingdom  of  England,  and 
there  to  deliver  the  declaration  sent  unto  the  Parlia- 
ment of  England,  and  the  letter  sent  unto  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines,  now  sitting  in  that  kingdom;  and  to 
propose,  consult,  treat,  and  conclude  with  that  As- 
sembly, or  any  commissioners  deputed  by  them,  or 
any  committee  or  commission  deputed  by  the  houses 
of  Parliament,  on  all  matters  which  may  further  the 
union  of  this  island  in  one  form  of  church-govern- 
ment, one  confession  of  faith,  one  catechism,  one 
directory  for  the  worship  of  God,  according  to  the 
instructions  which  they  have  received  from  the  As- 
sembly, or  shall  receive,  from  time  to  time,  from  the 
commissioners  of  the  Assembly,  deputed  hereafter  for 
that  effect;  with  powers  also  to  them,  to  convey  to 
his  majesty,  the  humble  answer  sent  from  this  Assem- 
bly to  his  majesty's  letter,  by  such  occasion  as  they 
shall  judge  expedient;  and  sick-like,  to  deliver  the 
Assembly's  answer  to  the  letter  sent  from  some  well- 
affected  brethren  there; — and  generally  authorizes 
them  to  do  all  things  which  may  further  the  much 


40 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


desired  union  and  nearest  conjunctionof  the  churches 
of  England  and  Scotland,  and  conform  to  these  in- 
structions aforesaid." 

When  the  Scottish  commissioners  arrived,  they 
were  received  with  great  respect  and  solemnity  by  the 
Assembly;  and  the  prolocutor  made  a  formal  address 
to  them  in  the  name  of  the  Assembly,  which  was 
answered  by  Mr.  Alexander  Henderson,  in  behalf  of 
the  commissioners.  Speeches  were  also  made  on  the 
occasion  by  Dr.  Hayle  and  Mr.  Case.  These  commis- 
sioners from  Scotland  were  welcomed  to  the  Assem- 
bly, and  invited  to  give  their  aid  in  the  business  on 
hand,  and  to  take  a  part  in  all  the  proceedings  of  the 
Assembly.  Mr.  Henderson,  in  the  name  of  his  bre- 
thren, expressed  the  lively  sympathy  of  the  Scottish 
nation  with  the  present  condition  of  England,  and 
their  readiness  to  lend  their  aid  in  whatever  way  they 
might  be  able;  and  especially,  their  cordial  disposi- 
tion to  contribute  their  assistance  in  promoting  the 
work  in  hand. 

The  Scottish  commissioners  were  invited  to  take 
their  seats  as  regular  members  of  the  Assembly;  but 
this  they  declined,  and  chose  rather  to  be  considered 
as  commissioners  from  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
church  of  Scotland,  to  deliberate  and  consult  with 
this  Assembly,  on  all  matters  which  related  to  a  con- 
formity in  religion,  between  the  two  nations;  and  in 
this  capacity  they  acted,  although  they  took  their  full 
share  in  the  discussions  of  the  Assembly. 

But  to  effect  communication,  not  only  with  the 
Assembly,  but  with  the  Parliament,  a  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  certain  select  persons  from 
the  House  of  Lords,  House  of  Commons,  and  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines.  Whatever  the  Scottish  commis- 
sioners desired  to  corrimunicate  to  any,  or  all  these 
bodies,  was  transmiUed  through  this  committee. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  41 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Covenant  approved  by  Parliament  and  the  Assembly — Is  solemnly 
sworn  by  the  members  of  both  Houses — Tendered  to  the  people 
and  taken  by  many — All  persons  in  Office,  and  all  persons  Or- 
dained required  to  take  it. 

As  soon  as  the  solemn  League  and  Covenant  was 
received  by  the  Parliament  of  England,  it  was  con- 
sidered and  approved,  and  then  sent  to  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster,  where  its  several  articles 
and  engagements  were  read  and  seriously  deliberated 
on,  and  a  resolution  adopted,  to  swear  and  subscribe 
the  same.  The  time  fixed  upon  by  parliament,  was, 
Monday,  the  25th  of  September,  1643.  Accordingly, 
on  the  day  appointed,  the  house  of  Commons,  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines,  and  the  Scottish  commissioners, 
convened  in  the  church  of  St.  Margaret's,  Westmin- 
ster, when  the  solemn  transaction  was  opened  by  a 
prayer  by  Mr,  White,  of  Dorchester,  one  of  the  asses- 
sors of  the  Assembly.  After  which,  Mr.  Henderson, 
and  Mr.  Nye,  each  spoke  in  justification  of  taking 
the  covenant,  and  exhibited  the  advantages  which 
the  church,  in  former  times,  had  received  from 
such  sacred  combinations.  The  covenant  was  then 
read,  article  by  article,  by  Mr.  Nye;  upon  which, 
each  person,  standing  up,  with  his  head  uncovered, 
with  his  bare  right  hand  lifted  up  to  heaven,  wor- 
shipping the  great  name  of  God,  swore  to  the  per- 
formance of  the  engagements  of  this  solemn  league. 
The  solemnity  was  concluded  with  a  prayer  by  Dr. 
Gouge.  The  members  of  the  house  of  Commons 
now  retired  into  the  chancel,  and  respectively  sub- 
scribed their  names  on  one  roll  of  parchment;  and 
the  members  of  the  Assembly  did  the  same,  on  an- 
other roll;  on  both  of  which,  the  covenant  had  been 
fairly  transcribed.  The  swearing  and  subscribing  the 
solemn  league  and  covenant  was  performed  by  the 
house  of  Peers  on  another  day,  namely,  the  15th  of 
October;  on   which  occasion,  a  sermon  was  preached 


42 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


by  Dr.  Temple,  and  an  exhortation  given,  by  Mr. 
Colman. 

The  next  Lord's  day  after  the  covenant  had  been 
sworn  by  the  House  of  Commons  and  Assembly  of 
Divines,  it  was,  by  order  of  Parliament,  read  in  all 
the  churches,  within  the  bills  of  mortality  in  London, 
and  tendered  to  all  persons  present,  and  sworn  and 
subscribed  by  as  many  as  could  be  persuaded  to 
do  so. 

The  following  is  an  exhortation  to  taking  the  cove- 
nant, agreed  upon  by  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
ordered  to  be  printed: 

^'Bie  veneris,  Feb.  9,  1643. 

"  If  the  power  of  religion,  or  solid  reason ;  if  loyalty 
to  the  king,  and  piety  to  their  native  country,  or  love 
to  themselves,  and  natural  affection  to  their  posterity; 
if  the  example  of  men  touched  with  a  deep  sense  of 
all  these;  or  extraordinary  success  from  God  there- 
upon, can  awaken  an  embroiled  bleeding  remnant 
to  embrace  the  sovereign  and  only  means  of  their 
recovery,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  this  solemn 
league  and  covenant  will  find,  wheresoever  it  shall 
be  tendered,  a  people  ready  to  entertain  it  with  all 
cheerfulness  and  duty. 

"And  were  it  not  commended  to  the  kingdom 
by  the  concurrent  encouragement  of  the  honourable 
houses  of  parliament,  the  assemby  of  divines,  the  re- 
nowned city  oi  London,  multitudes  of  other  persons, 
of  eminent  rank  and  quality  of  this  nation,  and  the 
whole  body  of  Scotland,  who  have  all  willingly 
sworn  and  subscribed  it  with  rejoicing  at  the  oath,  so 
graciously  seconded  from  heaven  already,  by  blasting 
the  counsels,  and  breaking  the  power  of  the  enemy 
more  than  ever;  yet  it  goeth  forth  in  its  own  strength 
with  such  convincing  evidence  of  equity,  truth,  and 
righteousness,  as  may  raise  in  all  (not  wilfully  igno- 
rant, or  miserably  seduced)  inflamed  affections  to 
join  with  their  brethren  in  this  happy  bond,  for  put- 
ting an  end  to  the  present  miseries,  and  for  saving 
both   king   and   kingdom  from   utter  ruin,  now  so 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  43 

Strongly  and  openly  laboured  by  the  popish  faction, 
and  such  as  have  been  bewitched  and  besotted  by 
that  viperous  and  bloody  generation." — 

"  It  then  proceeds  to  answer  objections  against 
taking  the  covenant;  as 

•«Obj.  1.  That  it  obliges  to  the  extirpation  of  pre- 
lacy, which  stands  as  yet  by  the  known  laws  of  the 
land. 

"Answ.  The  life  and  soul  of  the  hierarchy  is  already 
taken  away;  nothing  of  jurisdiction  remaining;  and 
since  it  is  but  a  human  constitution,  if  it  be  found  a 
grievance,  we  may  certainly  endeavour  its  extirpation 
in  a  lawful  way. 

"  Obj.  2.  It  is  said  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  oath  of 
canonical  obedience. 

"  Answ.  If  men  have  sworn  obedience  to  the  laws 
of  the  land,  may  they  not  endeavour  by  lawful  means 
the  repealing  those  laws,  if  they  are  found  incon- 
venient? Or  if  any  ministers  have  taken  oaths  not 
warranted  by  the  laws  of  God  and  the  land,  ought 
they  not  to  repent  of  them? 

"  Obj.  3.  But  the  covenant  crosses  the  oaths  of  su- 
premacy and  allegiance. 

"  Answ.  This  is  false,  for  it  binds  to  the  preservation 
of  the  king's  person  and  authority,  in  the  defence  of 
the  religion  and  liberties  of  the  kingdom. 

"  Obj.  4.  But  it  is  done  without  the  king's  consent. 

"Answ.  So  was  the  protestation  of  May  5,  which 
went  through  the  whole  kingdom,  his  majesty  not 
excepting  against  it,  though  he  was  then  at  White- 
hall. The  same  has  been  done  by  the  united  Nether- 
lands under  king  Philip;  and  more  lately  in  Scotland, 
his  majesty  himself  declaring  by  act  of  parliament, 
that  they  had  done  nothing  but  what  became  loyal 
and  obedient  subjects." 

Together  with  the  aforesaid  exhortation,  the  fol- 
lowing orders  and  instructions  were  issued  by  the 
parliament,  and  directed  to  be  printed  and  dispersed 
over  the  kingdom: 

"  Ordered,  That  copies  of  the  covenant  be  sent  to 
all  commanders  in  chief,  and  governors  of  towns,  forts, 


44 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


garrisons  and  soldiers,  that  it  may  be  taken  by  all  sol- 
diers under  their  command. 

"  That  copies  be  sent  to  the  committees  of  parlia- 
ment, in  the  several  counties  that  are  under  the  power 
of  the  parliament,  and  that  the  committees  within  six 
days  disperse  the  said  copies,  and  cause  them  to  be 
dehvered  to  the  ministers,  church-wardens,  or  consta- 
bles of  the  several  parishes. 

"  That  the  several  ministers  be  required  to  read 
the  covenant  to  the  people,  the  next  Lord's  day  after 
they  have  prepared  the  people  to  take  it. 

"  That  the  committees  of  parliament  take  it  them- 
selves within  seven  days  after  they  have  received  the 
copies;  and  then  disperse  themselves  throughout  their 
counties,  so  as  three  or  four  of  them  may  be  together 
at  the  several  places  appointed  for  the  people  to  take 
it.  That  they  summon  all  the  ministers,  church- 
wardens, constables,  and  other  officers,  to  that  place, 
and  after  a  sermon  preached  by  a  minister  whom 
they  shall  appoint,  they  shall  cause  the  said  minister 
to  tender  the  covenant  to  all  such  ministers,  and  other 
officers,  to  be  taken  and  subscribed  in  the  presence  of 
the  committee. 

"  The  said  ministers  are  then  to  be  required  to  ten- 
der the  covenant  to  all  the  rest  of  their  parishioners 
next  Lord's  da}^,  and  if  any  minister  refuse,  or  neglect 
to  appear  at  the  said  summons,  or  refuse  to  take  the 
said  covenant,  the  committee  shall  appoint  another 
minister  to  do  it  in  his  place. 

"  If  any  minister  refuse  to  take,  or  tender  the  cove- 
nant; or  if  any  other  person  refuses  to  take  it  after  a 
second  tender,  upon  two  Lord's  days,  their  names 
shall  be  returned  to  the  committee,  and  by  them  to 
the  house  of  commons;  and  all  persons  that  absent 
themselves  after  notice  given,  shall  be  returned  as 
refusers." 

So  sirict  was  the  enforcement  of  these  orders,  that 
even  the  English  who  resided  in  foreign  countries, 
were  not  exempted  from  the  obligation.  Directions 
were  sent  to  Mr.  Strickland,  the  Parliament's  agent  at 
the  Hague,  to  tender  the  covenant  to  all  the  English 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  45 

in  those  countries,  and  to  certify  the  names  of  such 
as  refused.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  the  elector 
Palatine,  who  happened  then  to  be  at  the  Hague,  vol- 
untarily subscribed  the  covenant;  and  afterwards, 
when  he  went  to  England,  condescended  to  take  his 
seat  in  the  Assembly  of  Divines. 

In  December  20,  1643,  it  was  ordered  by  the  Lords 
and  Commons,  that  no  person  should  be  capable 
of  being  elected  a  common  council-man  of  the  city  of 
London,  or  so  much  as  have  a  voice  in  such  elections, 
who  had  not  taken  the  covenant. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1644,  it  was  ordered  by 
the  House  of  Commons,  that  the  covenant  should  be 
publicly  read  on  every  day  of  fasting  and  humilia- 
tion, in  every  church  in  the  kingdom;  and  it  was  en- 
joined on  every  congregation  to  have  a  copy  fairly 
printed,  in  a  large  character,  and  framed  so  as  to  be 
fitted  to  be  hung  up  in  a  public  place  of  the  church, 
so  that  it  might  be  read  by  the  people.  All  young 
ministers  at  their  ordination,  were  required  to  take 
the  covenant;  and  none  of  the  laity  were  continued 
in  office,  whether  civil  or  military,  who  refused  it; 
and  all  knights,  gentlemen,  and  officers,  who  came 
over  from  the  king's  party,  were  received  only  on 
condition  of  subscribing  the  covenant. 

As  soon  as  the  king  was  made  acquainted  with 
these  proceedings,  he  issued  the  following  proclama- 
tion, prohibiting  all  his  loyal  subjects  to  take  the  cove- 
nant:— 

"By  the  King. 

"Whereas  there  is  a  printed  paper,  entitled,  A 
solemn  league  and  covenant,  for  reformation  and  de- 
fence of  religion,  &c.,  pretended  to  be  printed  by  or- 
der of  the  House  of  Commons,  September  21,  which 
covenant,  though  it  seems  to  make  specious  expres- 
sions of  piety  and  religion,  is  in  truth  nothing  else 
but  a  traitorous  and  seditious  combination  against  us 
and  the  established  religion  and  laws  of  this  kingdom, 
in  pursuance  of  a  traitorous  design  and  endeavour  to 
bring  in  foreign  force  to  invade  this  kingdom;  we  do 
therefore  straitly  charge  and  command  all  our  loving 


46 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


subjects,  of  what  degree  or  quality  soever,  upon  their 
allegiance,  that  they  presume  not  to  take  the  said  se- 
ditions and  traitorous  covenant.  And  we  do  like- 
wise hereby  further  inhibit  and  forbid  all  our  sub- 
jects to  impose,  administer,  or  tender,  the  said  cove- 
nant, as  they,  and  every  one  of  them,  will  answer 
the  contrary  at  their  utmost  and  extremest  perils.'^ 

This  proclamation  he  sent  also  into  Scotland,  to 
which  the  states  of  that  kingdom  paid  no  further  re- 
gard than  to  send  him  the  reasons  of  their  conduct, 
with  their  advice  to  his  majesty  to  take  the  covenant 
himself. 

The  imposition  of  this  test  operated  with  unjust 
severity  on  the  clergy,  who  were,  in  some  instances, 
ejected  from  their  livings  for  refusing  the  covenant; 
but  commonly,  there  were  other  grounds  alleged  for 
turning  ministers  out  of  their  places.  In  some  whole 
counties,  very  little  regard  was  paid  to  the  orders  of 
Parliament  on  this  subject.  This  was  the  fact  in 
Worcester  county,  where  Mr.  Baxter  resided,  who 
not  only  refused  the  covenant  himself,  but  used  his 
influence  so  effectually,  that  very  few  took  the  cove- 
nant there;  except  in  the  city  of  Worcester,  where 
his  influence  was  less. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Episcopalians  mostly  decline  attending — The  members  divided  into 
three  parties — Their  respective  opinions — Distinguished  leaders. 

The  ministers  who  composed  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines, were  selected  by  the  Parliament,  from  every 
part  of  the  kingdom;  and  as  the  original  design  was 
not  to  overthrow  the  hierarchy  of  the  English  church, 
but  only  to  reform  and  improve  it,  there  does  not  ap- 
pear to  have  been  any  motive  for  making  choice  of 
men  unfriendly  to  the  existing  establishment.  In- 
deed, the  whole  of  them  had  been  episcopally  ordain- 
ed; except  the  Scottish  commissioners  and  French 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  4*7 

ministers.  They  appear  to  have  been  impartially 
and  judiciously  selected,  without  its  being  known 
what  were  their  peculiar  sentiments.  Men  of  learn- 
ing and  piety  were  sought  for,  and  of  such,  in  general 
did  this  Assembly  consist.  That  the  Assembly  was 
not  convened  with  the  design  of  subverting  the  hie- 
rarchy, is  evident  from  the  fact,  that  among  those 
named  in  the  ordinance,  calling  the  Assembly,  were 
a  number  of  strong  Episcopalians;  these  however, 
either  did  not  attend,  or  soon  departed.  The  one 
who  remained  longest  was  Dr.  Daniel  Featly,  who, 
while  he  remained,  was  treated  with  great  respect 
and  attention,  and  indulged,  in  all  his  earnest  argu- 
ments, in  favour  of  Episcopacy.  But,  finally,  he  was 
expelled  from  the  Assembly  for  liolding  correspond- 
ence with  archbishop  Usher,  at  Oxford,  and  for  re- 
vealing their  proceedings,  in  violation  of  the  express 
words  of  the  ordinance,  which  forbade  them  to 
divulge  by  printing,  writing,  or  otherwise,  any  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly,  or  any  communica- 
tions made  to  them,  by  either  house  of  Parliament. 
Lord  Clarendon,  however,  says,  that  the  King  sent 
Dr.  Featly  a  letter  forbidding  him  to  stay  any  longer, 
but  that  he  excused  his  remaining  in  a  letter  to  Usher, 
which  being  intercepted,  he  was  committed  to  prison, 
as  a  spy,  and  archbishop  Usher,  who  had  been 
nominated  a  member,  but  never  attended,  was  now 
declared  incapable  of  sitting  in  the  Assembly,  as  well 
as  Dr.  Featly. 

The  Episcopal  divines  who  were  summoned  to 
attend  this  Assembly,  sent  in  reasons  for  not  taking 
their  seats;  the  substance  of  which  was,  1.  "That  the 
king,  by  royal  proclamation,  had  prohibited  the  As- 
sembly. 2.  That  the  members  were  not  chosen  by 
the  clergy,  and  therefore,  could  not  be  considered  as 
their  representatives.  3.  They  objected  to  the  mix- 
ture of  laity  with  the  clergy;  and  that  the  divines 
selected  were,  for  the  most  part,  of  a  Puritanical 
stamp,  and  enemies  to  the  hierarchy. 

There  was,  therefore,  no  Episcopal  party  in  the 
Assembly,  after  the  departure  of  Dr,  Featly;  the  other 


48 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


members,  as  appeared  in  the  progress  of  debate,  were 
divided  into  three  parties,  as  it  related  to  church- 
poUty;  the  Presbyterians,  Independents,  and 
Erastians.  Those  of  the  first  class,  were  by  far  the 
most  numerous;  but  they  were  not  at  first  opposed  to 
every  form  of  Episcopacy;  but  wished  and  intended 
to  reduce  it  to  the  standard  of  the  first  and  second 
ages  of  Christianity.  These  views  were,  however, 
greatly  changed  after  the  arrival  of  the  Scottish  com- 
missioners; for  after  a  full  discussion,  they  not  only 
laid  aside  the  office  of  bishop,  but  advanced  so  far  as 
to  maintain  ihejus  divinum  of  presbytery. 

The  Independents  were  few  in  number,  but  they 
were  men  of  eminent  learning  and  abilities,  and  occu- 
pied a  large  portion  of  the  time  of  the  Assembly,  with 
their  debates.  Their  leading  men  were,  Thomas 
Goodwin,  Sydrach  Simpson,  Philip  Nye,  Jeremiah 
Burroughs,  and  William  Bridge. 

The  Erastians  were  so  called  from  a  German  divine 
and  physician  of  the  sixteenth  century,  who  maintain- 
ed, that  the  pastoral  office  was  merely  persuasive,  and 
that  no  power  of  the  keys  was  attached  to  it.  A  min- 
ister might  dehort  the  profane  from  coming  to  the 
sacraments, but  he  had  no  right  to  forbid  them,  much 
less  to  use  force  to  prevent  their  attendance;  nor  has 
he  the  power  to  inflict  any  kind  of  censure.  They 
referred  the  punishment  of  all  ofl'ences,  civil  or  eccle- 
siastical, to  the  civil  magistrate.  The  great  benefit, 
which  they  promised  themselves  from  their  system 
was,  the  avoiding  all  collision  between  Church  and 
State,  by  the  erection  of  an  imperium  in  imperio;  and 
to  cut  up  by  the  roots  all  kinds  of  priestly  tyranny, 
over  the  consciences  of  men.  The  chief  patrons  of 
this  scheme,  in  the  Assembly,  were  Selden,  Light- 
foot,  Colman,  and  Whittack;  all  eminent  for  their  pro- 
found acquaintance  with  rabbinical  learning.  They 
denied  that  any  particular  form  of  church  government 
was  set  down  in  the  Scriptures,  but  maintained  that 
it  belonged  to  the  civil  magistrate  to  establish  such 
form  as  might  be  judged  most  expedient.  They 
alleged  that  Cranmer,  Redmayer,  Cox,  and  Whitgift 


WESTMINSTER  ASSE3IBLY.  49* 

entertained  the  same  opinions;  and  cited  from  the 
controversy  of  the  latter  with  Cartwriglit,  the  follow- 
ing words,  "I  deny  that  the  Scripture  has  set  down 
any  one  certain  form  of  church-government  to  be 
perpetual." — Again,  "  It  is  well  known,  that  the 
manner  and  form  of  government  expressed  in  the 
Scriptures  neither  is  now,  nor  can,  nor  ought  to  be 
observed,  either  touching  persons  or  functions." — 
*' The  charge  of  this  is  left  to  the  magistrate,  so  that 
nothing  be  contrary  to  the  word  of  God.  The 
government  of  the  church  must  be  according  to  the 
form  of  government  in  the  commonwealth." 

The  views  entertained  by  the  Independents,  as  ex- 
pressed in  their  ''  Apologetic  Narrative,"  were,  in 
regard  to  the  Church  of  England,  as  follows:  "  iVs 
to  the  Church  of  England,  we  profess  before  God 
and  the  world,  that  we  apprehend  a  great  deal  of  de- 
filement in  their  way  of  worship,  and  a  great  deal  of 
unwarranted  power  exercised  by  their  church  gov- 
ernors; yet  we  allow  many  of  their  parochial  churches 
to  be  true  churches,  and  their  ministers,  true  minis- 
ters." 

Their  scheme  did  not  go  to  the  length  to  which  the 
Brownists  extended  their  principles  of  Independency. 
They  professed  to  steer  a  middle  course  between  this 
system  and  presbytery,  and  held,  "  That  every  par- 
ticular congregation  of  Christians  has  an  entire  and 
complete  power  of  jurisdiction  over  its  members  to  be 
exercised  by  the  elders  thereof  within  itself." — '-'Not 
that  they  claim  an  entire  independency  with  regard 
to  other  churches,  for  they  agree  that  in  all  cases  of 
offence,  the  offending  church  is  to  submit  to  an  open 
examination,  by  other  neighbouring  churches,  and  on 
their  persisting  in  their  error,  or  miscarriage,  they 
then  are  to  renounce  all  Christian  communion  with 
them  till  they  repent,  which  is  all  the  authority  or 
ecclesiastical  power  that  one  church  may  exercise 
over  another;  unless  they  call  in  the  civil  inagistrate; 
for  which  they  find  no  authority  in  Scripture." 

'•  Their  mode  of  worship  in  Holland  was  the  same 
as  other  Protestants.   They  read  the  Scriptures  of  the 

4 


50  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY, 

Old  and  New  Testament  in  their  assemblies,  and,  on 
occasion,  expounded  them.  They  offered  np  solemn 
and  public  prayer  for  kings  and  all  in  authority;  and 
although  they  did  not  approve  of  a  form  of  prayer  in 
their  assemblies,  they  admitted  that  public  prayer 
ought  to  be  framed  by  the  study  and  premeditation  of 
their  ministers,  as  were  their  sermons. 

''The  word  of  God  was  constantly  preached  among 
them,  and  the  two  sacraments  of  baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper  regularly  and  frequently  administered 
in  their  assemblies,  to  which  were  added  the  singing 
of  psalms,  and  a  collection  for  the  poor,  every  Lord's 
day. 

"In  doctrine,  they  professed  an  agreement  with  the 
church  of  England,  and  other  reformed  churches. 
Their  officers  were,  pastors,  teachers,  ruling  elders, 
and  deacons.  They  practised  no  church  censures,  but 
admonition,  and  excommunication,  upon  obstinate 
offenders;  which  last,  they  maintained,  should  not  be 
pronounced,  but  for  crimes  of  the  greatest  magnitude, 
and  which  it  may  be  presumed,  were  committed 
contrary  to  the  light  and  conviction  of  the  person's 
conscience." 

The  reasons  which  the  Independents  assigned  for 
entering  so  largely  into  the  explanation  and  defence 
of  their  principles,  was,  that  they  had  been  so  grossly 
calumniated,  and  their  opinions  so  misrepresented, 
that  although  they  were  well  aware,  thai  they  should 
be  overborne  by  numbers,  yet  they  judged  it  a  fit  op- 
portunity to  vindicate  themselves,  and  their  tenets, 
from  the  odium  which  had  been  cast  on  them. 

Clarendon  and  Eachard,  represent  the  Indepen- 
dents as  ignorant  and  illiterate  enthusiasts;  which,  in 
regard  to  their  leaders,  was  certainly  a  great  mis- 
take. Rapin  also,  while  he  acknowledges  that  he 
knew  nothing  of  their  origin,  paints  them  in  very 
disadvantageous  colours;  and  says,  "that  their  prin- 
ciples were  exceeding  proper  to  put  the  kingdom  into 
a  flame;  that  they  abhorred  monarchy,  and  approved 
of  none  but  a  republican  government;  and  that  as  to 
religion,  their  principles  were  contrary  to  all  the  rest 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  51 

of  the  world;  that  they  would  not  endure  regular 
ministers  in  the  church,  but  every  one  among  them 
prayed,  preached,  admonished,  and  interpreted  Scrip- 
tures, without  any  other  call  than  what  himself  drew 
from  his  supposed  gifts,  and  the  approbation  of  liis 
hearers." 

The  above  shows,  how  accurate  historians  are 
often  misled,  in  regard  to  things  with  which  they  have 
little  acquaintance.  In  answer  to  similar  reproaches, 
in  the  year  1647,  they  declare,  "That  as  magistracy 
and  government,  in  general,  is  the  ordinance  of  God, 
they  do  not  disapprove  of  any  form  of  civil  govern- 
ment, but  do  freely  acknowledge,  that  a  kingly  gov- 
ernment, bounded  by  just  and  Avholesome  laws,  is 
both  allowed  by  God,  and  a  good  accommodation 
unto  men." 

It  may  here  be  remarked,  however,  that  as  both 
the  Browists  and  Anabaptists  hold  the  entire  inde- 
pendence of  all  churches,  they  were  commonly  inclu- 
ded under  this  denomination,  and  their  peculiarities 
seemed  to  give  character  to  the  general  body;  but 
there  was  not  one  of  either  of  these  sects  in  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines. 

The  testimony  of  Baxter,  respecting  those  properly 
called  Independents,  may  be  considered  as  impartial 
and  accurate,  as,  though  he  was  not  one  of  them,  he 
was  well  acquainted  with  the  men  and  their  princi- 
ples. He  admits,  "that  most  of  them  were  zealous, 
and  very  many,  learned,  discreet,  and  pious,  capable 
of  being  very  serviceable  to  the  church,  and  search- 
ers into  Scripture  and  antiquity;"  although  he  blames 
them  for  making  too  light  of  ordination  ;  for  their  too 
great  strictness  in  the  qualifications  of  church  mem- 
bers; for  their  popular  form  of  church  government, 
and  their  too  much  exploding  synods  and  councils. 
But  then  adds,  "I  saw  commendable  care  of  seri- 
ous holiness  and  discipline  in  most  of  the  Indepen- 
dent churches." 

As  to  the  Presbyterians,  they  formed  a  large  ma- 
jority in  the  Assembly,  and  there  is  no  need  to  enter 
into  any  detail  respecting  their  opinions,  since  the 


52  WESTJIIIVSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

"form  of  government"  adopted  by  the  Assembly  and 
established  by  the  Parliament,  shows  clearly  enongh, 
what  principles  they  held  on  this  snbject.  The  only 
extraordinary  thing  in  regard  to  them  is,  that  having 
all  been  educated  Episcopalians,  there  should  have 
been  such  an  agreement  among  them,  respecting  the 
Scriptural  form  of  church  government.  The  fact  fur- 
nishes a  strong  argument  in  favour  of  this  plan  of 
ecclesiastical  polity;  and  an  argument  of  the  same 
kind,  but  of  greater  force,  may  be  derived  from  the 
agreement  of  nearly  all  Protestant  churches,  in  all 
countries,  in  the  same  principles,  at  the  era  of  the 
Reformation.  For  even  the  English  reformers  can 
scarcely  be  said  to  form  an  exception;  for  Episcopacy 
was  retained  by  them,  not  so  much  from  conviction 
of  its  Scriptural  origin,  as  from  external  and  political 
circumstances,  which  they  had  no  power  to  control. 
It  is  true,  that  the  intolerant  and  dommeering  conduct 
of  the  bishops,  under  James  and  Charles  I.,  had  pro- 
duced in  the  minds  of  both  clergy  and  laity,  an  unfa- 
vourable impression,  in  regard  to  the  Episcopal  office; 
but  when  the  Assembly  met,  their  views  of  reforma- 
tion extended,  as  has  been  said,  no  further  than  to 
diminishing  the  authority  of  bishops,  and  reducing 
the  system  to  that  form,  which  was  believed  to  have 
been  prevalent  in  the  times  immediately  after  the 
apostles,  when  bishops  were  poor,  pious,  and  labori- 
ous men.  Two  reasons  may  be  assigned  for  the  gen- 
eral consent  of  the  members  of  this  Assembly,  to  the 
Presbyterian  form  of  church  government;  the  first 
was,  that  after  the  arrival  of  the  Scottish  commission- 
ers, there  was  a  full  and  extended  discussion  of  the 
subject,  in  which  these  Scottish  divines  took  a  large 
share;  and  they  possessed  the  advantage  of  having 
thoroughly  studied  the  subject,  in  relation  to  their 
own  kirk,  and  were,  therefore,  fully  prepared  to  defend 
the  cause  of  presbytery.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that 
the  young  Scot,  Gillespie,  was,  on  this  subject,  more 
than  a  match  for  all  the  learned  Erastians  and  Inde- 
pendents in  the  Assembly.  Many  of  the  English 
divines,  it  is  probable,  had  come  to  the  Assembly, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  53 

without  any  determinate  opinions  on  church  govern- 
ment, and  were  now  convinced  of  the  just  claims  of 
presbytery,  from  the  arguments  which  they  heard; 
others  had  come  to  the  same  conclusion  previously, 
by  the  careful  study  of  the  Scriptures. 

But  a  second  consideration,  which  might  have  in- 
fluenced a  number  who  were  not  convinced  of  the 
divine  right  of  presbytery,  was,  that  unless  they 
adopted  the  Presbyterian  polity,  there  was  no  pros- 
pect of  uniformity  in  religion  with  the  church  of  Scot- 
land, which  was  one  great  object  of  calling  the  As- 
sembly, as  is  set  forth  in  the  ordinance  of  Parliament, 
heretofore  inserted;  and  it  was  evident,  that  the  kirk 
of  Scotland  would  never  agree  to  any  form  of  Epis- 
copacy, however  modified.  They  had  recently  dis- 
carded, utterly,  their  own  bishops,  and  solemnly  ex- 
communicated most  of  them,  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  1638;  and  it  would  hav^been  as  easy  at  this 
time  to  introduce  popery,  as  prelacy,  into  the  church 
of  Scotland. 

There  is  one  other  consideration,  which  ought  to 
be  mentioned,  in  accounting  for  the  almost  unani- 
mous adoption  of  Presbyterian  principles  by  the 
Westminster  Assembly.  The  bishops,  and  high-toned 
Episcopalians,  had  generally  sided  with  the  king,  in 
the  dispute  between  him  and  the  Parliament.  This 
would  very  naturally  create  a  prejudice  against  that 
form  of  church  government  which  was  so  zealously 
defended  by  his  majesty  and  his  adherents.  The 
Parliament  were  more  and  more  tending  towards  re- 
publican principles;  and  it  is  easy  to  see,  that  Presby- 
tery is  more  in  accordance  with  such  principles,  than 
high  church  Episcopacy. 

When  the  Assembly  came  to  determine  the  point 
o({\\QJus  divinum  of  Presbytery,  most  of  the  Eras- 
tians  and  the  Independents  withdrew  from  the  body, 
and  returned  no  more;  but  of  this  we  shall  speak  in 
anotlier  place. 


54  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Correspondence  with  Foreign  Divines. 

The  Assembly  were  naturally  led  to  wish  to  receive 
the  countenance  and  aid  of  foreign  churches,  and  of 
the  most  learned  and  esteemed  theologians  in  the 
foreign  Protestant  universities.  They  therefore  ad- 
dressed the  following  circular : — 

"To  the  Belgic,  French,  Helvetian,  and  other  reformed 
churches. 

" Right  reverend  anadearly  beloved  in  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ, 

"We,  the  assembly  of  divines,  and  others,  convened 
by  the  authority  of  both  houses  of  Parliament,  with 
the  commissioners  from  the  general  assembly  of  the 
church  of  Scotland,  do  heartily  salute  you  in  the 
Lord.  We  doubt  not,  but  the  sad  reports  of  the  mis- 
eries under  which  the  church  and  kingdom  of  Eng- 
land do  bleed,  and  wherewith  we  are  ready  to  be 
swallowed  up,  is  long  since  come  to  your  ears:  and 
it  is  probable,  the  same  instruments  of  Satan  and  An- 
tichrist have,  by  their  emissaries,  endeavoured  to  re- 
present us  as  black  as  may  be  among  yourselves. — 
And  we  sometimes  doubt  whether  we  have  not  been 
wanting  to  our  own  innocence,  and  your  satisfaction, 
in  being  thus  long  silent;  but  pardon  us,  dear  breth- 
ren, if  this  cup  of  trembling  wherewith  our  spirits 
have  been  filled  to  amazement,  and  our  wrestling  with 
extreme  difficulties  ever  since  our  meeting,  has  hinder- 
ed from  that  which  was  our  dnty;  and  give  us  leave 
now  a  little  to  ease  our  grief,  while  we  relate  the  de- 
solation made  by  the  antichristian  faction,  who  are  for 
hindering  the  work  of  reformation,  and  for  intro- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  55 

ducing  and  cherishing  Popery;  and  are  now  arrived 
to  that  strength,  that  if  the  Lord  do  not  speedily  help 
us,  we  shall  be  altogether  laid  waste  by  them. 

"  How  great  a  hand  they  [the  prelates]  have  had, 
in  the  miseries  of  other  reformed  churches,  in  the  de- 
struction of  the  Palatinate,  in  the  loss  of  Rochel,  are 
so  fully  known  and  felt  by  you  all,  that  we  need  not 
speak  any  thing  of  them.  And  we  suppose  their  in- 
veterate hatred  against  you  all  is  sufficiently  manifest, 
in  that  multitudes  of  them  have  refused  to  acknow-^ 
ledge  any  of  you  for  churches  of  Christ  because  you 
are  not  prelatical,  and  thereby,  as  they  conceive, 
want  a  lawful  vocation  of  ministers.  Sure  we  are, 
that  among  ourselves,  scarce  one  thing  can  be  thought 
of  which  may  be  supposed  an  argument  of  their  de- 
sign to  advance  Popery,  that  has  not  been  attempted. 
— The  laws  against  popery  have  been  suspended; 
judges  forbid  to  proceed  against  condemned  priests; 
Jesuits  set  free;  houses  of  superstition  in  Ireland  and 
England  have  been  set  up  and  not  discountenanced; 
notorious  Papists  harboured  about  the  court  and  pre- 
ferred; many  released  from  legal  penalties,  and  their 
prosecutors  discountenanced;  agents  have  been  sent 
into  Italy,  and  nuncios  from  Rome  received,  while  the 
most  zealous  Protestants  have  been  persecuted;  many 
prelates  and  clergymen  have  publicly  preached,  and 
endeavoured  to  leaven  the  people  with  all  points  of 
Popery,  except  the  supremacy,  and  introduced  abund- 
ance of  corrupt  innovations  into  the  worship  of  God; 
for  noncompliance  with  which  many  have  been  forced 
to  fly  for  refuge  to  the  remote  parts  of  the  world. 

"They  imposed  upon  the  kingdom  of  Scotland  a 
new  Popish  service  book  and  canons,  to  which,  when 
that  nation  would  not  submit,  they  prevailed  with 
his  majesty  to  proclaim  them  rebels,  and  raise  an 
army  against  them,  to  which  all  the  Papists,  and  those 
who  were  popishly  affected,  contributed;  and  had  not 
the  Lord,  by  his  blessing  on  the  Scots'  arms,  and  by 
the  calling  of  this  Parliament,  prevented  it,  the  two 
nations  had  been  imbruing  their  hands  in  each  other's 
blood. 


56  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

"But  though  we  hoped  through  the  goodness  of 
God,  and  his  blessing  upon  this  ParUament,  whose 
hearts  were  incUned  to  a  more  perfect  reformation, 
that  our  winter  had  been  past,  yet,  alas!  we  find  it  to 
be  quite  otherwise.  We  know  our  sins  have  deserved 
all,  and  if  we  die  and  perish,  the  Lord  is  righteous;  to 
his  hand  we  submit,  and  to  him  alone  we  look  for 
healing.  The  same  antichristian  faction  not  being 
discouraged,  by  their  want  of  success  in  Scotland, 
have  stirred  up  a  bloody  rebellion  in  Ireland,  wherein 
above  one  hundred  thousand  Protestants  have  been 
destroyed  in  one  province,  within  a  few  months. 
They  have  alienated  the  heart  of  his  majesty  from  his 
Parliament,  and  prevailed  with  him  to  withdraw  and 
raise  an  army,  which  at  first  pretended  only  to  be 
made  up  of  Protestants — but  soon  after  Papists  were 
armed  by  commission  from  the  king ;  many  great  Pa- 
pists were  put  into  places  of  public  command,  and  the 
body  of  all  the  Papists  have  joined  his  majesty  with 
all  their  might:  they  profess  and  exercise  their  reli- 
gion publicly  in  several  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  go 
up  and  down  plundering,  murdering,  and  spoiling  of 
their  goods,  all  such  as  adhere  to  the  Parliament,  and 
to  the  cause  of  religion.  Nor  has  the  Parliament  been 
able,  by  their  petitions  and  remonstrances,  to  recover 
his  majesty  out  of  their  hands,  or  bring  these  men  to 
deserved  punishment,  but  the  sword  rages  in  almost 
every  corner  of  this  woful  land. 

"And  to  complete  our  miseries,  they  have  prevail- 
ed with  his  majesty  so  far  to  own  the  rebels  in  Ireland, 
as  not  only  to  call  them  his  Roman  Catholic  subjects 
now  in  arms,  but  to  grant  them  a  cessation  of  arms 
for  a  year,  and  to  hold  what  they  have  gotten,  with 
Uberty  to  strengthen  themselves  with  men,  money, 
arms,  ammunition,  &c.,  whereby  they  are  enabled 
not  only  to  destroy  the  remnant  of  Protestants  in  Ire- 
land, but  to  come  over  hither  (as  many  of  them  are 
already)  to  act  the  same  butchery  upon  us. 

"In  the  midst  of  these  troublesome  times  the  two 
houses  of  Parliament  have  called  this  assembly, to  give 
them  our   best  counsel   for  the  reformation  of  the 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  57 

church,  requiring  us  to  make  God's  word  only  our 
rule,  and  to  endeavour  the  nearest  conforuiity  to  the 
best  reformed  churches,  and  uniformity  to  all  the 
churches  of  the  three  kingdoms. 

"  The  church  and  kingdom  of  Scotland  have  made 
offer  of  their  humble  mediation  to  the  king  for  a  pacifi- 
cation, which  being  rejected  both  nations  have  entered 
into  a  mutual  league  and  covenant;  and  the  Scots 
have  resolved  to  join  in  arms  with  their  brethren  in 
England,  for  their  mutual  preservation  from  the  com- 
mon enemy,  and  so  far  as  in  them  lieth  for  the  safety 
of  their  native  king.  They  have  also  sent  their  com- 
missioners hither,  for  uniformity  of  religion  in  the 
churches  of  both  kingdoms. 

"  And  we  their  commissioners  do  exceedingly  re- 
joice, to  behold  the  foundation  of  the  house  of  God, 
not  only  in  doctrine,  but  in  church-government,  laid 
before  our  eyes  in  a  reverend  assembly  of  so  wise, 
learned,  and  godly  divines.  And  we  find  ourselves 
bound  in  all  Christian  duty,  as  well  as  by  our  late 
covenant,  to  join  in  representing  to  the  reformed 
churches  abroad,  the  true  condition  of  affairs  here, 
against  all  mistakes  and  misinformations. 

"And  now,  dear  brethren,  we  beg  of  you,  first,  to 
judge  aright  of  our  innocence  and  integrity  in  this  our 
just  defence;  if  our  enemies  say,  that  we  are  risen  up 
in  rebellion  to  deprive  the  king  of  his  just  power  and 
greatness,  and  to  bring  anarchy  and  confusion  into  the 
church  of  Christ,  we  doubt  not  but  our  solemn  cove- 
nant (a  copy  of  which  we  humbly  present  you  here- 
with) will  sufficiently  clear  us.  Let  the  righteous 
Lord  judge  between  us,  whom  we  implore  to  help  us 
no  further  than  we  can  plead  these  things  in  sincerity. 

"Secondly,  That  you  would  sympathize  with  us 
as  brethren,  who  suffer  in  and  for  the  same  cause 
wherein  yourselves  have  been  oppressed. 

"Thirdly,  That  you  would  conceive  of  our  condi- 
tion as  your  own  common  cause,  which,  if  it  be  lost 
with  us,  yourselves  are  not  like  long  to  escape,  the 
quarrel  being  not  so  much  against  men's  persons,  as 
against  the  power  of  godliness,  and  the  purity  of 


58 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY, 


God's  word.  The  way  and  manner  of  your  owning 
us  we  leave  to  yourselves,  only  we  importunately 
crave  your  fervent  prayers,  both  public  and  private, 
that  God  would  bring  salvation  to  us;  that  the  bless- 
ings of  truth  and  peace  may  rest  upon  us;  that  these 
three  nations  may  be  joined  as  one  stick  in  the  bands 
of  the  Lord;  and  that  we  ourselves,  contemptible 
builders,  called  to  repair  the  house  of  God,  in  a  trou- 
blesome time,  may  see  the  pattern  of  this  house,  and 
commend  such  a  platform  to  our  Zerubbabels  as  may 
be  most  agreeable  to  his  sacred  word,  nearest  in  con- 
formity to  the  best  reformed  churches,  and  to  establish 
uniformity  among  ourselves;  that  all  mountains  may 
become  plains  before  them  and  us;  that  then  all  who 
now  see  the  plummet  in  our  hands,  may  also  behold 
the  top-stone  set  upon  the  head  of  the  Lord's  house 
among  us,  and  may  help  us  with  shouting  to  cry, 
Grace,  grace,  to  it. 

"  Thus  much  we  have  been  commanded  to  inform 
you  of,  reverend  brethren  (and  by  you   all  faithful 
Christians   under  your  charge),    by   the  honourable 
House  of  Commons,  in  whose  name,  and  in  our  own, 
we  bid  you  heartily  farewell  in  the  Lord. 
"Your  most  affectionately  devoted  brethren  in  Christ, 
William  Twisse,  pro/ocu for. 
Cornelius  Burges,  John  White,  asssessor^s. 
Henry  Roborough,  Adoniram  Byfield,  scribes. 
John  Maitland,  A.  Johnston,  Alexander  Hender- 
son, Samuel  Rutherford,  Robert  Bailie,  George 
Gillespie,  commissioners  of  the  church  of  Scot- 
land.'' 

The  epistle  here  inserted,  was  addressed,  To  the 
learned  pastors  and  elders  of  the  classes  and  church- 
es, of  the  Province  of  Zealand,  our  much  honoured 
brethren.  Letters  of  the  same  import,  were  sent  to 
the  several  churches  of  the  Seven  United  Provinces; 
to  the  churches  of  Geneva;  the  Protestant  cantons  of 
Switzerland;  the  churches  of  Hesse;  Hannaw,  and 
Anhault;  and  to  the  Protestant  congregation  at  Paris. 
All  which  were  received  with  respect,  and  answered 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


59 


by  the  several  classes  to  which  the  circular  was  ad- 
dressed. The  answer  of  the  church  of' Paris  was 
read  iti  the  Assembly,  in  the  beginning  of  March,  and 
that  from  the  churches  of  Switzerland  on  the  12th  of 
June,  1644;  and  the  answer  of  the  church  of  Geneva, 
about  the  same  time.  That  from  the  classes  of  Am- 
sterdam, on  the  29th  of  June,  of  the  same  year.  Mr. 
Whitlock  observes,  "  That  the  Dutch  Divines  expres- 
sed, not  only  their  approbation  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Parliament  and  Assembly,  touching  the  Covenant, 
but  desired  to  join  with  the  two  kingdoms  therein." 

The  king,  apprehending  himself  to  be  misrepresent- 
ed, in  that  part  of  the  assembly's  letter,  which  insinu- 
ated a  design  to  introduce  popery,  and  being  advised 
to  vindicate  his  character  from  that  imputation,  caused 
a  manifesto  to  be  drawn  up,  in  Latin  and  English, 
addressed  to  all  foreign  Protestants;  which  though 
not  published  till  the  following  year,  will  be  properly 
introduced  in  this  place: 

"  Charles  by  the  special  providence  of  Almighty 
God,  king  of  England,  Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland, 
defender  of  the  faith,  &c.,  to  all  those  who  profess  the 
true  reformed  Protestant  religion,  of  what  nation,  de- 
gree, or  condition,  soever  they  be,  to  whom  this  pre- 
sent declaration  shall  come,  greeting. 

"Whereas,  we  are  given  to  understand,  that  many 
false  rumours  and  scandalous  letters  are  spread  up 
and  down  among  the  reformed  churches  in  foreign 
parts  by  the  politic  or  rather  the  pernicious  industry 
of  some  ill-affected  persons,  that  we  have  an  inclina- 
tion to  recede  from  that  orthodox  religion  which  we 
were  born,  baptized,  and  bred  in,  and  which  we  have 
firmly  professed  and  practised  throughout  the  whole 
course  of  our  life  to  this  moment ;  and  that  we  intend 
to  give  way  to  the  introduction  and  public  exercise  of 
Popery  again,  in  our  dominions;  which  most  detest- 
able calumny  being  grounded  upon  no  imaginable 
foundation,  hath  raised  these  horrid  tumults,  and 
more  than  barbarous  wars,  thoughout  thisftourish- 
ing  island,  under  pretence  of  a  kind  of  reformation 


60 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


which  is  incompatible  with  the  fundamental  laws  and 
government  of  this  kingdom;  we  desire  that  the  whole 
Christian  world  should  rest  assured,  that  we  never 
entertained  the  least  thought  to  attempt  such  a  thing, 
or  to  depart  a  jot  from  that  holy  religion,  which,  when 
we  received  the  crown  and  sceptre  of  this  kingdom, 
we  took  a  most  solemn  sacramental  oath  to  profess 
and  protect.  Nor  does  our  constant  practice,  and 
daily  presence  in  the  exercise  of  this  religion,  wilh 
so  many  asseverations  at  the  head  of  our  armies,  and 
the  public  attestation  of  our  barons,  with  the  circum- 
spection used  in  the  education  of  our  royal  offspring, 
besides  divers  other  undeniable  arguments,  only  de- 
monstrate this,  but  also  that  happy  alliance  of  mar- 
riage we  contracted  between  our  eldest  daughter  and 
the  illustrious  prince  of  Orange,  most  closely  confirms 
the  reality  of  our  intentions  herein;  by  which  it  ap- 
pears, that  our  endeavours  are  not  only  to  make  a 
profession  thereof  in  our  own  dominions,  but  to 
strengthen  it  abroad  as  much  as  lieth  in  our  power.'^ 
'^This  most  holy  religion  of  the  Anglicane  church, 
ordained  by  so  many  convocations  of  learned  divines, 
confirmed  by  so  many  acts  of  parliament,  and  strength- 
ened by  so  many  royal  proclamations,  together  with 
the  ecclesiastical  discipline  and  liturgy,  which  the 
most  eminent  Protestant  authors,  as  well  as  Germans, 
French,  Danes  and  Swedes,  Dutch  and  Bohemians, 
do  with  many  eulogies,  and  not  without  a  kind  of 
envy,  approve  and  applaud  in  their  public  writings, 
particularly  in  the  transactions  of  the  synod  of  Dort, 
wherein,  (besides  others  of  our  divines  who  were 
afterwards  prelates)  one  of  our  bishops  assisted,  to 
whose  dignity  all  due  respect,  and  precedency  were 
given;  this  religion,  we  say,  which  our  royal  father, 
of  blessed  memory,  doth  publicly  assert  in  his  famous 
concession  addressed  to  all  Christian  princes,  with  the 
hierarchy  and  liturgy  thereof,  we  solemnly  protest, 
that  by  the  help  of  God,  we  will  endeavour  to  our 
utmost  ^ower,  and  last  period  of  our  life,  to  keep 
entire  and  inviolable;  and  will  be  careful  according 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  61 

to  oar  duty  to  heaven,  and  the  tenor  of  our  oath  at 
our  coronation,  that  all  our  ecclesiastics,  in  their  several 
degrees  and  incumbencies,  shall  preach  and  practise. 
Wherefore  we  command  all  our  ministers  of  state 
beyond  the  seas,  as  well  ambassadors  as  residents, 
agents,  and  messengers;  and  we  desire  all  the  rest  of 
our  loving  subjects  that  sojourn  in  foreign  parts,  to 
communicate  and  assert  this  our  solemn  and  sincere 
protestation,  when  opportunity  of  time  and  place 
shall  be  offered. 

"  Given  in  our  university  and  city  of  Oxford, 
"May  14,  1644>' 

This  declaration  did  not  answer  the  purpose  of 
conciliating  the  foreign  churches  and  divines;  for 
although  it  contained  an  assurance  that  the  king  had 
no  intention  of  turning  papist,  it  convinced  them 
that  no  alteration  in  the  English  hierarchy  was  to  be 
expected;  and  his  insinuating,  that  the  foreign  divines, 
or  at  least  the  most  learned  of  them,  preferred  the 
English  hierarchy  to  the  government  of  their  own 
churches,  convinced  them,  that  they  ought  to  be  more 
sparing  of  their  compliments,  for  the  future. 

Attempts  were  also  made  by  private  correspond- 
ence, to  engage  some  of  the  most  learned  foreign 
divines  to  come  out,  in  some  publications,  in  favour  of 
the  principles  of  the  Parliament  and  Assembly.  Mr. 
Robert  Baillie,  one  of  the  Scottish  commissioners  car- 
ried on  a  correspondence,  during  the  whole  time  of 
his  residence  in  London,  with  his  cousin  german,the 
minister  of  the  Scottish  church  in  Campvere,  and  af- 
terwards of  Middlebury,  in  Zealand.  In  one  of  these 
letters,  dated  April  25,  1544,  he  writes,  "We  are  all 
very  sensible  of  your  prudent  diligence.  By  all 
means  go  on  with  your  divines  for  an  answer.  I 
wish  those  whom  you  have  engaged  in  Zealand  were 
put  on  to  engage  with  themselves,  the  divines  of  the 
other  provinces,  especially  those  of  the  presbytery  of 
Leyden:  tilso  Rivet  and  Voetius.  There  is  great 
need;  for  this  is  a  very  wavering  and  fickle  people. 


62  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

Write  what  they  please  against  bishops  and  ceremo- 
nies ohita,  for  our  confirmation;  for  these  are  now 
out  of  the  hearts  of  all  here  almost.  But  above  all, 
and  in  earnest,  let  them  exhort  to  be  watchful  against 
anarchical  schisms,  and  the  heresies  of  Antinomians 
and  Anabaptists.  These  came  together  cordially 
against  the  reformed  churches,  and  increase  so  much 
in  number  and  boldness,  as  easily  they  would  carry 
all  here  to  a  lamentable  confusion,  if  the  fear  of  our 
armies  did  not  keep  them  in  order." 

Baillie  exerted  himself  greatly  to  procure  that  some 
of  the  most  eminent  foreign  divines  should  write  in 
favour  of  the  Assembly;  and  especially  that  they 
should  appear  in  favour  of  Presbyterian  church 
government,  in  opposition  to  the  Independents  and 
Erastians.  There  is  scarcely  a  letter  to  Mr.  Spang, 
in  which  he  does  not  express  his  anxiety  on  this  sub- 
ject. But  for  some  reason,  these  learned  professors 
in  the  foreign  Universities,  seem  to  have  been  very 
averse  to  volunteer  in  this  controversy.  Andrew 
Rivet  had  taken  offence  at  something  which  he  under- 
stood had  been  said  disrespectfully  towards  him,  by 
some  one  in  the  Assembly;  which,  however,  Baillie 
declares  to  have  been  a  false  report.  Spanheim  said, 
when  applied  to,  that  he  would  not  write  on  that  sub- 
ject, unless  commanded  to  do  so  by  his  university. 
Du  Moulin  did  write  a  letter,  which  was  more  favour- 
able than  was  expected  of  him;  but  the  only  one  who 
came  up  to  the  hopes  and  wishes  of  the  Presbyterians, 
was  Apollonius. 

In  a  note  to  Mr.  Buchanan,  Baillie  says,  '^  I  con- 
ceive it  very  expedient,  that  you  write  to  some  of 
the  ministers  of  Paris,  Geneva,  and  Bern,  the  true 
state  of  our  affairs,  how  that  a  mighty  faction  is 
arisen,  to  prefer  liberty  of  conscience  for  all  sects;  at 
least  a  freedom  for  Morellius'  popular  government  of 
the  church;  but  that  the  Scots,  and  most  of  the  synod 
and  Parliament  are  for  establishing  the  government, 
by  synods  and  classes.  It  would  encourage  them 
much,   if  the   divines   of  Geneva   and    Switzerland 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  63 

would,  in  their  answers  to  the  synod's  letter,  as  the 
divines  of  Zealand  have  done  in  their  letter,  and  the 
divines  of  Hesse  also,  exhort  the  synod  at  some  length, 
and  in  earnest,  to  beware  of  the  pernicions  liberty  of 
all  sects,  in  particular  those  who  are  enemies  to  the 
discipline  of  all  the  reformed.  There  is  a  golden  oc- 
casion in  hand,  if  improved,  to  get  England  conformed, 
in  government  and  worship,  to  the  rest  of  the  reform- 
ed. If  nothing  dare  be  written  in  public,  by  the 
French,  see  if  they  will  write  their  mind  for  our  en- 
couragement, to  any  private  friend  here,  or  in  Hol- 
land. You  should  write  for  the  same  purpose  to 
Moulin  in  Sedan,  and  Spanheim  in  Leyden.  It  were 
good,  if  they  write,  that  their  letters  were  conceived 
in  the  greatest  names  they  could  procure.  The 
Theologie  of  Bern  would  get  a  letter  from  the  Switz- 
erland church;  those  of  Geneva,  from  their  whole 
ecclesiastic  classes;  Moulin,  from  the  University  of 
Sedan,  and  Spanheim,  from  the  university  of  Leyden. 
It  were  not  ill  that  in  all  th^ir  letters,  they  congratu- 
lated the  abolition  of  episcopacy  and  popish  ceremo- 
nies; and  exhorted  to  set  up  quickly,  the  government 
of  Christ;  that  so  long  an  anarchy  as  is  here,  is  the 
mother  of  heresies  and  schisms,  and  many  more 
evils." 

The  answers  received  from  the  foreign  reformed 
churches,  were  commonly  cordial  to  the  cause  in 
which  the  Assembly  was  engaged;  but  not  uniformly 
so.  That  from  the  synod  of  Hesse  Cassel,  was  very 
cold  and  unsatisfactory,  at  the  close  of  which,  they 
advised  the  Assembly  not  to  meddle  with  the  bishops. 

In  another  to  Mr.  William  Spang,  he  speaks  of  the 
letter  from  Zealand,  and  suggests  that  it  would  be 
well  to  have  it  printed  in  Latin  and  English,  as  was 
the  Assembly's  letter  to  them;  and  to  send  over  a 
number  of  copies,  as  there  was  likely  to  be  a  scarcity. 
He  mentions  a  letter  written  by  ApoUonius,  one  of  the 
Holland  divines,  and  expresses  a  high  approbation  of 
it.  ''  We  are,"  says  he,  "  much  obliged  to  that  excel- 
lent divine,  ApoUonius.      We  trust  he  will,  with  all 


64  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

diligence,  go  on  in  his  avowed  intention.  There  is 
nothing  wlierein  he  can  do  better  service  to  God,  and 
the  reformed  churches."  "  It  is  marvelled,  that  the 
rest  of  your  provinces  and  professors,  will  not  follow 
the  gracious  and  charitable  examples  of  Zealand 
Shall  they  see  both  the -church  and  state  of  all  these 
three  kingdoms  perish,  and  stand  aloof  without  the 
least  assistance,  by  the  stretch  of  their  pen,  when  they 
are  called  to  it  by  our  lamentable  letters,  and  the 
gracious  example  of  their  compassionate  brethren  ? 
See  how  they  will  be  answerable  for  such  an  apathy, 
in  so  necessary  a  time."  "  Strange  that  your  divines 
of  Holland  will  learn  nothing  from  England.  Do 
they  sit  still,  while  we  are  a-dying?" 

In  a  letter,  under  date  of  December  6th,  1644, 
Baillie  informs  his  friend  Spang,  that  Apollonius' 
book  was  read  in  the  Assembly,  and  a  copy  given  to 
every  member^  and  what  is  represented  to  be  absque 
exemplo,  the  thanks  of  the  Assembly  were  ordered  to 
be  transmitted  to  the  author.  '*  Jan  Apollonius  has 
done  a  good  service  to  God  and  his  churches  here.  I 
have  not  yet  had  time  to  read  it  all,  but  I  approve 
what  I  have  read." 

In  anoiher  letter,  to  Buchanan,  at  Paris,  he  gives 
thanks  for  the  sympathy  felt  in  the  common  cause  of 
all  the  reformed  churches,  by  the  friends  at  Paris. 
In  answer  to  some  queries  which  they  wished  to  have 
answered,  Baillie  informs  them,  "Thafthe  Covenant 
of  Scotland,  rejects  absolutely, all  kinds  of  Episcopacy; 
that  the  Covenant  of  the  Three  Kingdoms  is  expressly 
for  rooting  out  all  prelacy,  and  not  merely  the  ty- 
ranny of  that  oflice.  That  no  Episcopacy  could  be 
tolerated,  as  being  a  mere  human  invention,  without 
the  word  of  God ;  which,  wherever  it  lodged,  has  been 
a  very  unhappy  guest.  That  ruling  elders  are  con- 
ceived here  on  the  old  French  grounds,  by  all  of  our 
side,  to  stand  on  a  divine  right;  and  that  an  ecclesias- 
tical right  alone  is  no  just  foundation  for  any  officer  in 
the  house  of  God."  "That  the  Independents'  com- 
mon tenets  are  these:  1.  That  the  power  of  ecclesias- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  65 

tical  censures  is  alone  in  the  Congregational  presby- 
teries. Ttiey  grant  the  divine  right  and  many  excel- 
lent uses  of  synods  lesser  and  greater,  only  deny 
their  power  of  jurisdiction  over  any  congregation. 
Ordination  of  all  officers,  also,  their  depositions;  and 
excommunication  of  all  members,  they  give  to  the 
Congregational  consistory.  They  give  so  much  au- 
thority to  a  synod,  and  to  every  neighbouring  congre- 
gation, when  they  receive  no  satisfaction  from  any 
scandalous  congregation,  to  abstain  from  communion 
with  it;  and  to  pronounce  their  sentence  of  non-com- 
munion with  it. 

2.  They  will  admit  of  none  to  be  members  of  their 
congregations,  of  whose  true  grace  and  regeneration 
they  have  no  good  evidences.  By  this  means,  they 
would  keep  out  of  the  Christian  church,  forty  for  one, 
of  the  members  of  the  best  reformed  churches. 

3.  They  make  it  necessary  to  have  all  the  men, 
who  are  communicants,  present  at  every  act  of  juris- 
diction of  the  consistory. 

4.  They  give  liberty  to  every  one  who  is  able, 
though  he  never  entered  the  ministry,  to  profess  and 
preach  publicly  in  the  face  of  the  church, 

5.  They  do  not  censure  in  their  churches  the  de- 
nial of  poedo-baptism,  though  they  profess  their  dis- 
like of  that  error. 

6.  Many  of  them  preach,  and  some  print  for  a 
liberty  of  conscience;  at  least  the  great  equity  of  a 
toleration  of  all  religions;  that  every  man  should  be 
permitted  without  any  fear  so  much  as  of  discounte- 
nance from  the  magistrate,  to  profess  publicly  his 
conscience,  were  he  never  so  erroneous,  and  also  live 
according  thereunto ;  if  he  trouble  not  the  public  peace, 
by  any  seditious  or  wicked  practice." 


66  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Fifteen  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England  revised. — A  view  of  the 
alterations  proposed. 

As  has  been  already  mentioned,  the  first  object  of 
the  Assembly  was,  not  to  overthrow  the  hierarchy, 
or  to  set  aside  the  thirty-nine  Articles  of  Religion,  but 
to  alter  and  improve  both.  Accordingly,  one  of  their 
first  acts  was,  to  divide  their  whole  number  into  three 
committees,  to  each  of  which  was  assigned  the  con- 
sideration of  a  certain  number  of  the  articles  of  the 
English  Church.  The  design  of  this  revision  was, 
not  to  alter  any  of  the  doctrines  of  those  Articles,  but 
to  render  their  expression  more  explicit,  in  favour  of 
Calvinistic  doctrines.  Certain  persons  were  appointed 
to  search  for  the  most  authentic  copies  of  those  arti- 
cles which  could  be  obtained,  and  to  exhibit  the  same 
to  the  Assembly.  Ten  weeks  were  occupied  in  dis- 
cussing the  amendments  proposed  to  the  first  fifteen 
of  the  THIRTY-NINE  ARTICLES.  At  this  poiut,  they 
were  arrested  in  their  proceedings,  by  an  order  from 
Parliament,  to  proceed  immediately  to  the  forming  a 
Directory  for  public  worship;  because  the  liturgy 
being  virtually  set  aside,  the  churches  were  at  a  great 
loss  how  to  proceed  in  the  public  worship  of  God. 
And  after  the  arrival  of  the  Scottish  Commissioners, 
it  was  ascertained,  that  uniformity  between  the  Eng- 
hsh  and  Scottish  churches,  could  be  more  easily  ob- 
tained, by  forming  a  new  Confession,  than  by  amend- 
ing the  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England.  The  fur- 
ther revision  of  these  Articles  was  never  afterwards 
resumed  in  the  Assembly.  But  as  so  much  time  was 
employed  in  this  work,  and  as  the  revision  is  still 
extant,  a  history  of  the  Westminster  Assembly  would 
not  be  complete  without  an  exhibition  of  the  changes 
made  in  the  Articles,  which  were  considered.  The 
fairest  view  of  what  alterations  were  proposed  and 
adopted,  in  these  fifteen  Articles,  will  be  afforded  by 
exliibiting,  in  parallel  columns,  these  Articles  in  their 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


67 


original  form,  and  opposite  to  them,  the  same  Articles 
as  amended. 


ARTICLES 

OF   THE 

CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND. 

Revised  and  altered  by  the  assem- 
bly of  divines  at  VV^estminster, 
in  the  year  1 643,  with  Scripture 
references. 


THE  ARTICLES 

OF    THE 

CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND. 


ARTICLE    I. 


Of  Faith  in  the  Holy  Trinity.  Of  Faith  in  the  Holy  Trinity. 


There  is  but  one^  living-  and  true 
God,*'  everlasting,^  without  body, 
parts,''  or  passions,<=  of  infinite 
power,f  wisdom,?  and  goodness,*! 
the  maker  and  preserver  of  all 
things,  both  visible  and  invisi- 
ble.' And  in  unity  of  this  God- 
head there  be  three  persons,  of  one 
substance,  pov/er,  and  eternity; 
the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost.k 

ARTICLE    II. 

Of  the  Word,  or  Son  of  God,  which 
was  made  very  Man. 

The  Son,  which  is  the  Word  of 
the  Father,  begotten  from  ever- 
lasting of  the  Father,!  the  verym 
and  eternal  God.a  of  one  sub- 
stance with  the  Father,"  took 
man's  nature  in  the  w^omb  of  the 
blessed  Virgin,  of  her  substance;? 
so  that  two  whole  and  perfect  na- 
tures, that  is  to  say,  the  Godhead 
and  the  manhood,  were  joined  to- 

a  Isa.  xlvi.  9.     1  Cor.  viii.  4.  6. 
b  Jer.  X.  10.     1  Thes.  i.  9. 
c  Psal.  xc.  2.     Rom.  xvi.  2G. 
d  Deut.  iv.  15,  16.     John  iv.  24,  with 
Luke  xxiv.  39. 

e  Acts  xiv.  15.     Jame.s  i.  17. 

f  Jer.  xxxii.  17,  27      Mark  x.  27. 

g  Psal.  cxivii.  5.    Rom.  xi.  33. 

h  Psal.  cxix  €8,  wilh  Matt.  xix.  17. 

i  Neh.  ix.  6.    Col.  i.  16,  J7. 


There  is  but  one  living  and  true 
God,  everlasting,  without  body, 
parts,  or  passions ;  of  infinite 
power,  wisdom  and  goodness,  the 
maker  and  preserver  of  all  things, 
both  visible  and  invisible.  And 
in  unity  of  this  Godhead  there  be 
three  persons,  of  one  substance, 
power,  and  eternity,  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost. 

ARTICLE   II. 

Of  the  Word,  or  Son  of  God  which 
was  made  very  Man, 

The  Son,  which  is  the  word  of 
the  Father,  begotten  from  ever- 
lasting of  the  Father,  the  very  and 
eternal  God,  of  one  substance  with 
the  Father,  took  man's  nature  in 
the  womb  of  the  blessed  Virgin, 
of  her  substance;  so  that  two 
whole  and  perfect  nature.^,  that  is 
to  say,  the  Godhead  and  man- 
hood, were  joined  together  in  one 

k  Matt.  iii.  16,  17.  xxviii  19.  1  John 
iv.  7.    2  Cor.  xiii.  14. 

1  Prov.  viii.  22-31.     John  i.  12.  14. 

Di  ]  John  V.  20      Rom.  ix.  5. 

n  John  xvii.  5.  Heb.  i.  8,  with  Psal. 
xlv.  6. 

o  John  X.  30.     Heb.  i.  3. 

p  John  i.  14.  Isa.  vii.  14.  Luke  i.  35. 
Gal.  iv.  4. 


68 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


Articles  revised. 

gether  in  one  person,  never  to  be 
divided,  whereof  is  one  Christ, 
very  God  and  very  man,q  who 
for  our  sakes  truly  suffered  most 
grievous  torments  in  his  soul  from 
God,""  was  crucified,  dead,  and  bu- 
ried,5  to  reconcile  his  Father  to 
us,t  and  to  be  a  sacrifice,  not  only 
for  original  guilt,  but  also  for  ac- 
tual sins  of  men." 


Articles  of  the  Church  of  England. 

person,  never  to  be  divided,  where- 
of is  one  Christ,  very  God  and 
very  man,  who  truly  suffered,  was 
crucified,  dead,  and  buried,  to  re- 
concile his  Father  to  us,  and  to  be 
a  sacrifice,  not  only  for  original 
guilt,  but  also  for  all  actual  sins 
of  men. 


ARTICLE    III. 

As  Christ  died  for  us  and  was 
buried,  so  it  is  to  be  believed  that 
he  continued  in  the  state  of  the 
dead,  and  under  the  power  and 
dominion  of  death,"'  from  the  time 
of  his  death  and  burial  until  his 
resurrection  ;^  which  hath  been 
otherwise  expressed  thus :  he  went 
down  into  hell. 


ARTICLE    III. 

Of  the  going  down  of  Christ  into 
Hell. 

As  Christ  died  for  us,  and  was 
buried  :  so  also  is  it  to  be  believ- 
ed that  he  went  down  into  hell. 


ARTICLE    IV. 


ARTICLE    IV. 


Of  the  Resurrection  of  Christ.  Of  the  Resurrection  of  Christ. 


Christ  did  truly  rise  again  from 
death,y  and  took  again  his  body, 
with  flesh,  bones,  and  all  things 
appertaining  to  the  perfection  of 
man's  nature,^  wherewith  he  as- 
cended into  heaven,  and  there  sit- 
teth,^  until  he  return  to  judge^  all 
menc  at  the  general  resurrection 
of  the  body  at  the  last  day.^ 


Christ  did  truly  rise  again  from 
death,  and  took  again  his  body, 
with  flesh,  bones,  and  all  things 
appertaining  to  the  perfection  of 
man's  nature,  wherewith  he  as- 
cended into  heaven,  and  there  sit- 
teth,  until  he  return  to  judge  all 
men  at  the  last  day. 


ARTICLE    V. 


ARTICLE    V. 


Of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
The  Holy   Ghost  is  very   and 

q  Isa.  vii.  14,  with  Matt.  i.  23.     Rom. 
i.  3,  4.     Heb.  xiii.  8. 

r  Isa.  liii.  10,  U.     Mark  xiv.  33,  34. 

»  1  Peter  ii.  24.     Phil.  ii.  1.     ICor.  xv. 
3,4. 

t  Ezek.  xvi.  63.    Rom.  iii.  25.    2  Cor. 
V.  12. 

u  Isa.  liii.  10.     Eph.  v.  2.     1  John  i.  7. 
Heb.  ix.  26. 

w  Psal.  xvi.  10,  with  Act.s  ii.  24—27.31 . 

X  Rom.  vi.  9.     Matt.  xii.  40. 
1  Cor.  XV.  4.    Rom.  viii.  34.    Psal. 


Of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
The    Holy  Ghost,    proceeding 

xvi.  10,  with  Acts  ii.  31.  Luke  xxiv. 
34. 

z  Luke  xxiv.  39,  with  John  xx.  25.  27. 

a  Psal.  Ixviii.  18,  with  Eph.  iv.  8.  Psal. 
ex.  1.  with  Acts  ii.  34,  35.  Mark  xix. 
10.     Rom.  viii.  34. 

b  Acts  iii.21.  Psal.  ex.  1,  with  1  Cor. 
XV.  25,  26.     Acts  i.  11. 

c  2  Cor.  V.  20.    Acts  xvii.  31. 

d  Exod.  iii.  6,  with  Luke  xx.  37,  38. 
Acts  xxiv.  14,  75.  1  Cor.  xv.  12,  to  the 
end.    John  v.  28, 29. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  69 

Articles  revised.  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England. 


eternal  God,  of  one  substance,e 
majesty/  and  glory,  with  the  Fa- 
ther and  the  Son,?  proceeding 
from  the  Father  and  the  Son.i» 


from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  is  of 
one  substance,  majesty,  and  glory, 
with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  very 
and  eternal  God. 


ARTICLE   VI. 

Of  the    Sufficiency    of   the  Holy 
Scriptures  for  Salvation. 

Holy  Scripture'  containeth  all 
things  necessary  to  salvatioUji^  so 
that  whatsoever  is  not  read  there- 
in, nor  may  be  proved  thereby,  is 
not  to  be  believed  as  an  article  of 
faith,  or  necessary  to  salvation.i 

By  the  name  of  Holy  Scripture 
we  understand  all  the  canonical 
Books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment  which  follow : 


ARTICLE    VI. 

Of  the  Sufficiency   of  the    Holy 
Scriptures  for  Salvation. 

Holy  Scripture  containeth  all 
things  necessary  to  salvation  ;  so 
that  whatsoever  is  not  read  there- 
in, nor  may  be  proved  thereby,  is 
not  to  be  required  of  any  man, 
that  it  should  be  believed  as  an 
article  of  the  faith,  or  be  thought 
requisite  or  necessary  to  salva- 
tion. In  the  name  of  the  Holy 
Scripture,  we  do  understand  those 
canonical  books  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testament,  of  whose  autho- 
rity was  never  any  doubt  in  the 
church. 


Of  the  Old  Testament. 

Genesis,  Exodus,  &.c. 
Of  the  New  Testament. 

The  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  &c. 

All  which  books,  as  they  are 
commonly  received,  we  do  re- 
ceive, and  acknowledge  them  to 
be  given  by  the  inspiration  of 
God ;  and  in  that  regard,  to  be  of 
most  certain  credit,  and  highest 
authority. 


Of  the  Na7nes  and  Number  of  (he 
Canonical  Books. 


Genesis, 
Exodus, 


Leviticus, 
Numbers,  &c. 


And  the  other  books,  as  Hie- 
rome  saith,  the  church  doth  read 
for  example  of  life  and  instruction 
of  manners ;  but  yet  doth  it  not 
apply  them  to  establish  any  doc- 
trine :  such  are  these  following. 
Third  of  Esdras,  Book  of  Tobias, 
Fourth  of  Esdras,  Judith,  &c. 

All  the  books  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament, as  they  are  commonly  re- 
ceived, we  do  receive,  and  ac- 
count them  for  canonical. 


e  2  Sam.  xxiii.  2, 3.  Isa.  vi.  5.  8,  with 
Acts  xxviii.  25,  and  v.  3,  4.  1  Cor.  iii. 
16,  and  vi.  19. 

f  Job  xxvi.  13.  33,  34.  1  Cor.  xii.  Matt, 
xxviii.  19.     2  Cor.  xiii.  14. 

g  1  Cor.  xii.  11.  Eph.  i.  17,  and  1  Cor. 
ii.  8,  with  1  Pnt.  iv.  14. 

h  John  XV.  26,  and  Matt.  x.  20,  and  1 
Cor.  ii.  11,  12,  with  Gal.  iv.  6,  and  Rom. 


viii.  9,  and  Phil.  i.  9.  John  xvi.  14.  lea- 
xi.  2.  Isa.lxi.  1.  Gen.  i.  2.  2  Chron.  xv.  1- 

i  Rom.  i.  2.  2  Tim.  iii.  15.  2  Pet.  i. 
20,  21. 

kPsal.  xix.  7.  2  Tim.  iii.  15—17. 
James  i.  21.  25.     Acts  xx.  32. 

1  Prov.  XXX.  5,  6.  Isa.  viii.  20.  Acts 
xxvi.  22,  with  ver.  20.  27.  Gal.  i.  8,  9. 
John  V.  39. 


70 


WESTMINSTEK   ASSEMBLY. 


Articles  revised. 

ARTICLE    VJI. 

Of  the  Old  Testament. 

The  Old  Testament  is  not  con- 
trary  to  the  New,  in  the  doctrine 
contained  in  them;™  for  both  in 
the  Old  and  New  Testament, 
everlasting  life  is  offered  to  man- 
kind by  Christ,!^  who  is  the  only 
mediator  between  God  and  man,o 
being  both  God  andman.p  Where- 
fore they  are  not  to  be  heard  which 
feign,  that  the  old  fathers  did  look 
only  for  temporary  promiscs.q 

Although  the  law  given  from 
God  by  Moses,  as  touching  cere- 
monies and  rites,  do  not  bind 
Christians  ;>■  nor  the  civil  precepts 
given  by  Moses,  such  as  were  pe- 
culiarly fitted  to  the  common- 
wealth of  the  Jews,  are  of  neces- 
sity  to  be  received  in  any  com- 
monwealth;«  yet  notwithstanding, 
no  Christian  man  whatsoever  is 
free  from  the  obedience  of  the 
commandments  which  are  called 
moral.*  By  the  moral  law,  we 
understand  all  the  ten  command- 
ments taken  in  their  full  extent. 


Articles  of  the  Church  of  England. 

ARTICLE    VII. 

Of  the  Old  Testament. 

The  Old  Testament  is  not  con- 
trary to  the  New  ;  for  both  in  the 
Old  and  New  Testament,  ever- 
lasting life  is  offered  to  mankind 
by  Christ,  who  is  the  only  media- 
tor between  God  and  man,  being 
both  God  and  man.  Wherefore 
they  are  not  to  be  heard  which 
feign,  that  the  old  fathers  did 
look  only  for  transitory  promises. 
Although  the  law  given  from  God 
by  Moses,  as  touching  ceremonies 
and  rites,  do  not  bind  Christian 
men ;  nor  the  civil  precepts  there- 
of ought  of  necessity  to  be  receiv- 
ed in  any  commonwealth ;  yet 
notwithstanding,  no  Christian 
man  whatsoever  is  free  from  the 
obedience  of  the  commandments 
which  are  called  moral. 


m  Acts  xxvi.  21.  23.  2  Pet.  iii.  2. 
Luke  xxiv,  44.  Rom.  iii.  31.  Gal.  iii. 
21.  23,  24. 

a  Gen.  iii.  15.  xxii.  18,  with  Gal.  iii.  8. 
14.  ICor.  X.2— 4.  Luke  i.  69,70.  Acts 
iii.  24.     Isa.  liii. 

o  Dan.  ix.  17.  Rom.  viii.  34.  1  John 
ii.  1.  Heb.  vii.  25.  1  Tim.  ii.  5.  John 
xiv.  6. 

P  Gal.  iv.  4,  5.  Acts  xx.  28.  Phil.  ii. 
7,8. 


ARTICLE   VIII. 

Of  the  three  Creeds. 

The  three  creeds,  Nice  creed, 
Athanasius'  creed,  and  that  which 
is  commonly  called  the  Apostles' 
creed,  ought  thoroughly  to  be  re- 
ceived and  believed :  for  they  may 
be  proved  by  most  certain  war- 
rants of  holy  Scripture. 

q  Acts  xxvi.  6,  7.  Rom.  iv.  11.  Gal. 
iii.  9.    Heb.  xi.  10.  16.  35. 

T  Gal.  iv.9, 10.  Col.  ii.  14.  16,  17.  Heb. 
ix.  9,  10. 

8  Acts  XXV.  9,  10.  25,  with  Deut.  xvii. 
8—13.  Rom  xiii.  1.  5.  Tit.  iii.  1.  1 
Pet.  ii.  13,  14. 

t  Matt.  v.  17,  to  the  end.  Rom.  xiU. 
8—10.  Eph.  vi.  1—3.  James  ii.  8—12. 
Rom.  vii.  25.  iii.  31.    Matt.  vii.  12. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY, 


71 


Articles  revised. 

ARTICLE    IX. 

Of  Original  or  Birth  Sin. 

Original  sin"  standeth  not  in 
the  following  of  Adam,  as  the  Pe- 
lagians  do  vainly  talk;"'  but  to- 
gether with  his  first  sin  imputed/ 
it  is  the  fault  and  corruption  of 
the  nature  of  every  man  that  na- 
turally is  propagated  from  Adam  ; 
whereby  man  is  wholly  deprived  of 
original  righteousness)  and  is  of  his 
own  nature  inclined  only  to  evil.^ 
So  that  the  lust  of  the  flesh,  call- 
ed in  Greek  (ff-jvajuA  cr^picoc,  which 
some  do  expound  the  wisdom, 
some  sensuality,  some  the  affec- 
tion,  some  the  desire  of  the  flesh, 
is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God;^ 
and  therefore  in  every  person  born 
into  this  world  it  deserveth  God's 
wrath  and  damnation.'^  And  this 
infection  of  nature  doth  remain, 
yea,  in  them  that  are  regenerate,c 
whereby  the  flesh  lusteth  always 
contrary  to  the  Spirit.<i  And  al- 
though there  is  no  condemnation 
for  them  that  are  regenerate  and 
do  believe,^  yet  the  apostle  doih 
confess,  that  concupiscence  and 
lust  is  truly  and  properly  sin.f 


Articles  of  the  Church  of  England. 

ARTICLE    IX. 

Of  Original  or  Birth  Sin. 

Original  sin  standeth  not  in  the 
following  of  Adam,  as  the  Pela- 
gians do  vainly  talk,  but  it  is  the 
fault  and  corruption  of  the  nature 
of  every  man  that  naturally  is  en- 
gendered of  the  off'spring  of  Adam, 
whereby  man  is  very  far  gone 
from  original  righteousness,  and 
is  of  his  own  nature  inclined  to 
evil,  so  that  the  flesh  lusteth 
always  contrary  to  the  Spirit,  and 
therefore  in  every  person  born 
into  this  world,  it  deserveth  God's 
wrath  and  damnation.  And  this 
infection  of  nature  doth  remain, 
yea  in  them  that  are  regenerated, 
whereby  the  lust  of  the  flesh, 
called  in  Greek  <:ppiviiju.A  crupicocj 
which  some  do  expound  the  wis- 
dom, some  sensuality,  some  the 
affection,  some  the  desire  of  the 
flesh,  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of 
God.  And  although  there  is  no 
condemnation  for  them  that  be- 
lieve and  are  baptized,  yet  the 
apostle  doth  confess,  that  concu- 
piscence and  lust  hath  of  itself  the 
nature  of  sin. 


ARTICLE   X. 


ARTICLE    X. 


Of  Free  Will. 

The  condition  of  man  after  the 
fall  of  Adam  is  such,  that  he  can- 
not  turn  or  prepare  himself,  by 
his  own  natural  strength,  and 
good  works,  to  faith  and  calling 
upon  God;?  wherefore  we  have 
no  power  to  do  good  works  pleas- 

uPsal.  li.  5.     Johniii.5,  6. 

w'  Job  xiv.  4.  XV.  14.  Rom.  vi.  6.  John 
iii.  3.  5.  7. 

X  Rom.  V,  12—19.  Gen.  ii.  17,  with  1 
Cor.  XV.  22. 

y  Col.  ii.  13.  Rom.  vii.  18.  Eccl.  vii. 
29. 

z  Gen.  vi.  5.viii.21.  Jer.xvii.9.  Rom. 
vii.  8.    James  i.  14. 


Of  Free  Will. 

The  condition  of  man  after  the 
fall  of  Adam  is  such  tliat  he  can- 
not turn  and  prepare  himself  by 
his  own  natural  strength  and  good 
works  to  faith  and  calling  upon 
God.  Wherefore  we  have  no  power 
to   do  good  works   pleasant  and 

a  Rom.  viii.  7.  1  Cor.  ii.  H.  Col  i.  21. 
b  Eph.  ii.  3.     Rom.  viii.  6,  7. 
c  Prov.  XX.  9.     Rom.  vii.  17.  20.  23. 25. 
dQal.v.  17. 

e  Rom.  viii.  1.  13.     John  iii.  13. 
f  Rom.  viii.  17-20. 

g  Eph.  ii.  1  5.  1  Cor.  ii.  14.  Eph.  ii. 
8—10.     John  vi.  44.  65. 


72 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


Articles  revised. 

ing  and  acceptable  to  God,ii  with- 
out  the  grace  of  God  by  Christ, 
both  preventing  us,  that  we  may 
have  a  good  will,  and  working  so 
effectually  in  us,  as  that  it  deter- 
mineth  our  will  to  that  which 
is  good,'  and  also  working  with 
us  when  we  have  that  will  unto 
good.t 


Articles  of  the  Church  of  England. 

acceptable  to  God,  without  the 
grace  of  God  by  Christ  prevent- 
ing us,  that  we  may  have  a  good 
will,  and  working  with  us,  when 
we  have  that  good  will. 


ARTICLE    XI. 

Of  the  Justification  of  Man  before 
God. 

We  are  justified,  that  is,  we 
are  accounted  righteous  before 
God,  and  have  remission  of  sins,i 
not  for,  nor  by  our  own  works 
or  deservings,m  but  freely  by  his 
grace,n  only  for  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ's  sake,o  his 
whole  obedience  and  satisfac- 
tion being  by  God  imputed  unto 
us.P  and  Christ  with  his  righteous- 
ness, being  apprehended  and  rest- 
ed on  by  faith  only.q  The  doc- 
trine of  justification  by  faith  only, 
is  a  wholesome  doctrine,  and  very 
full  of  comfort;'"  notwithstanding 
God  doth  not  forgive  them  that 
are  impenitent,  and  go  on  still  in 
their  trespasses.^ 


ARTICIJE    XI. 

Of  the  Justification  of  Man. 

We  are  accounted  righteous 
before  God,  only  for  the  merit 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  by  faith,  and  not  for  our 
own  works  or  deservings.  Where- 
fore, that  we  are  justified  by  faith 
only,  is  a  most  wholesome  doc- 
trine, and  very  full  of  comfort,  as 
more  largely  is  expressed  in  the 
homily  of  justification. 


ARTICLE    XII. 


ARTICLE    XII. 


Of  Good  Works. 

Good  works,  which  are  the 
fruits  of  faith,'  and  follow  after 
justification,"  cannot  put  away  our 

h  Rom.  viii.  8.     Heb.  xi.  6. 

i  Ezek.  xi.  19,  20.  xxxvi.  26,  27.  Jer. 
xxxi.  32,  33,  with  Heb.  x.  11.  Phil.  ii. 
12,  13.  John  vi.  45.  Eph.  i.  19,  20.  1 
Cor.  iv.  7. 

k  Heb.  xiii.  21.  Phil.  viii.  1.  6.  Heb. 
xii.  22.  1  Pet.  v.  10.  1  Thes.  v.  23,  24. 
1  Kings  viii.  57.  58. 

1  Rom.  iv.  5—7.     Psal.  xxxii.  1.  2. 

m  Rom.  iii.  20.  Gal.  ii.  16.  iii.  10,  11. 
Phil,  iii.9. 

n  Rom.  iii.  24.     Tit.  iii.  7. 


Of  Good  Works. 

Albeit,  that  good  works,  which 
arc  the  fruits  of  faith,  and  follow 
after  justification,  cannot  put  away 

o  Rom.  iii.  24,  25.  v.  1.  2  Cor.  v.  18, 19. 

P  Rom.  V.  9.  17—19.  iii.  25,  26.  iv.  6. 
24.    2Cor.  V.  21. 

q  Rom.  iii.  22.  25.  26.  28.  Gal  ii.  16. 
Isa.  xxviii.  10.  with  Rom.  ix.  33,  and  1 
Pet.  ii.  6.     Phil,  iii.9. 

r2Tim.  i.  13.  Rom.  v.  1,  2.  8.  11.  xv. 
13.     1  Pet.  i.  8. 

s  Psal.  Ixviii.  20,  21.  Exod.  xxxiv.  6, 
7.     Luke  xiii.  3.  5. 

tGal.  V.6.     James  ii.  17, 18,  22. 

n  Tit.  ii.  14.  iii.  7,  8.    Eph.  ii.  8,  9.  18. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


73 


Articles  revised. 

sins,^  and  endure  the  severity  of 
God's  judgment;  yet  are  they, 
notwithstanding-  their  imperfec- 
tions,3f  in  the  sight  of  God  pleasing 
and  acceptable  unto  him  in  and 
for  Christ/  and  do  spring  out  ne- 
cessarily  of  a  true  and  lively  faith,^ 
insomuch  that  by  them  a  lively 
faith  may  be  evidently  known,  as 
a  tree  discerned  by  the  fruits.^ 


Articles  of  tJie  Church  of  England. 

our  sins,  and  endure  the  severity 
of  God's  judgment,  yet  are  they 
pleasing  and  acceptable  to  God  in 
Christ,  and  do  spring  out  neces- 
sarily  of  a  true  and  lively  faith, 
insomuch  that  by  them  a  lively 
faith  may  be  as  evidently  known 
as  a  tree  discerned  by  the  fruit. 


ARTICLE    XIII. 


ARTICLE  Xltl. 


Of  WorJis  before  Justijication. 

Works  done  before  justification 
by  Christ,  and  regeneration  by 
his  Spirit,  are  not  pleasing  unto 
God,b  forasmuch  as  they  spring 
not  of  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  :c  nei- 
ther do  they  make  men  meet  to 
receive  grace,  or  (as  the  school 
authors  say)  deserve  grace  of  con- 
gruity;  yea,  rather,  for  that  they 
are  not  done  as  God  hath  willed 
and  commanded  them  to  be  done, 
they  are  sinful.'' 


Of  Works  hefore  Justijication. 

Works  done  before  the  grace 
of  Christ  and  the  inspiration  of 
his  Spirit,  are  not  pleasant  to  God, 
forasmuch  as  they  spring  not  of 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  neither  do 
they  make  men  meet  to  receive 
grace,  or  (as  the  school  authors 
say)  deserve  grace  of  congruity  ; 
yea,  rather,  for  that  they  are 
not  done  as  God  hath  willed 
and  commanded  them  to  be  done, 
we  doubt  not  but  they  have  the 
nature  of  sin. 


ARTICLE   XIV. 


ARTICLE   XIV. 


Of  Works  of  Supererogation. 

Voluntary  works,  besides  over 
and  above  God's  commandments, 
which  they  call  works  of  supere- 
rogation, cannot  be  taughtf  with- 
out arrogancy  and  impiety;?  for 
by  them  men  do  declare,  that  they 
do  not  only  render  unto  God  as 
much  as  they  are  bound  to  do; 
but   that  they   do  more   for    his 

w  Rom.  iii.  20,  21.  iv.  4—9.  Dan.  ix. 
18,  19. 

X  Neh.  xiii.  22.  Psal.  cxliii.  2.  Job  ix. 
14.  15.  19,  20.  Exod.  xxviii.  38.  Rev. 
viii.  3,  4. 

y  1  Peter  ii.  5.  Heb.  xiii.  16.  20,  21. 
Col.  i.  10.     Piiil.  iv.  18. 

z  James  ii.  16.     1  John  i.  4. 

a  James  ii.  18, 19.  Johnxv.  4,  5.  1  John 
ii.  3, 5.     Matt.  xii.  33. 

b  Tit.  i.  15,  16.    Matt.  vii.  18.    Rom. 


Of  Works  of  Supererogation. 

Voluntary  works,  besides  over 
and  above  God's  commandments, 
which  they  call  works  of  supere- 
rogation, cannot  be  taught  with- 
out arrogancy  and  impiety.  For 
by  them  men  do  declare,  that  they 
do  not  only  render  unto  God,  as 
much  as  they  are  bound  to  do, 
but   that   they  do   more    for  his 

viii.  8.  Prov.  XV.  8. 26.  xxi.  27.  Rom.  iii. 
12. 

cHeb.  xi.  5,  6.    Gal.  v.  6. 

d  2  Tim.  i.  9.  John  i.  13.  Rom.  viii. 
7,  8.  Hag.  ii.  14.  Isa.  Iviii.  1—5.  Ixvi. 
2,  3. 

f  Matt.  v.  48.  Mark  xii.  30,  31.  Phil, 
iv.  8,  9. 

g  Job  ix.  2,  .3.  20,  21.  Psal.  cxliii.  2. 
Prov.  XX.  9.     Phil.  iii.  8—15. 


74 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


Articles  revised. 

sake  than  of  bounden  duty  is 
required;  whereas  Christ  saith 
plainly,  "  When  you  have  done  all 
those  things  that  are  commanded 
you,  say,  We  are  unprofitable 
servants,  we  have  done  that  which 
was  our  duty  to  do.''^ 


Articles  of  the  Church  of  England. 

sake  than  of  bounden  duty  is 
required;  whereas  Christ  saith 
plainly,  "  When  ye  have  done  all 
that  are  commanded  to  you,  say, 
We  be  unprofitable  servants." 


ARTICLE  XV. 

Of  Christ  alone  without  Sin. 

Christ  in  the  truth  of  our  nature 
was  made  like  unto  us  in  all 
thing-s,  sin  only  excepted,'  from 
which  he  was  clearly  void  both  in 
his  flesh  and  in  his  Spirit  ;k  he 
came  to  be  the  Lamb  without 
spot,i  who  by  sacrifice  of  himself" 
once  made,"!  should  take  away  the 
sins  of  the  world  ;o  and  sin  (as  St. 
John  saith)  was  not  in  him.P  But 
all  we  the  rest,  although  baptized 
and  regenerate,  yet  offend  in 
many  things;  and  "if  we  say  we 
have  no  sin,  we  deceive  our- 
selves,  and  the  truth  is  not  in 
us."q 


N.  B.  The  Assembly  proceeded 


ARTICLE    XV. 

Of  Christ  alone  without  Sin. 

Christ  in  the  truth  of  our  na- 
ture was  made  like  unto  us  in 
all  things,  (sin  only  except,)  from 
which  he  was  clearly  void,  both 
in  his  flesh  and  in  his  Spirit.  He 
came  to  be  a  Lamb  without  spot, 
who  by  sacrifice  of  himself  once 
made,  should  take  away  the  sins 
of  the  world ;  and  sin  (as  St.  John 
saith)  was  not  in  him.  But  all  we 
the  rest  (although  baptized,  and 
born  again  in  Christ)  yet  oflfend  in 
many  things ;  and  "  if  we  say  we 
have  no  sin,  we  deceive  ourselves, 
and  the  truth  is  not  in  us." 

Charles  Herle,  prolocutor. 

Henry  Roborough,  scriba. 

Adoniram  Byfield,  scriba. 
no  farther  in  the  revisal. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Confession  of  Faith  Composed. 

When  the  subject  of  articles  of  religion  was  again 
resumed,  it  was  resolved,  in  compliance  with  the 
earnest  wishes  of  the  Scottish  commissioners,  to  pre- 


h  Luke  xvii.  10,  with  ver.  7 — 9. 
i  Isa.  liii.  3—5.    Hub.  ii.  17,  with  v.  15. 
It  Luke  i.  35,  with  Acts  iii.  14.     John 
xiv.  30.     2Cor.  v.  2L    Heb.  vii.26. 
I  1  Pet.  i.  19. 


m  Eph.  V.  2. 

n  Heb.  i.\.  28,  28.  x.  10.  12. 

o  John  i.  29. 

P  1  John  iii.  5. 

q  James  iii.  2.     1  John  i.  8.  10. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  75 

pare  new  formularies  of  doctrine,  which  might  be 
common  to  both  nations,  by  which  means  the  uni- 
formity in  rehgion  between  England  and  Scotland 
would  be  secured,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the 
solemn  league  and  covenant. 

Many  of  the  points  necessary  to  be  included  in  a 
Confession  of  Faith  had  already  been  discussed,  in 
the  revision  of  the  first  fifteen  articles  of  the  church 
of  England;  and  the  most  remarkable  circumstance 
attending  this  venerable  assembly  was,  that  having 
been  brought  together  from  every  part  of  the  king- 
dom, and  generally  unknown  to  each  other  before, 
they  should  have  been  so  entirely  harmonious  in 
their  views  of  the  system  of  evangelical  doctrine.  It 
does  not  appear,  that  in  the  whole  body  there  was 
one  who  dissented  from  any  of  those  doctrines  which 
are  usually  denominated  Calvinistic;  although  they 
are  more  properly  called  the  doctrines  of  the 
reformation;  for  they  were  common  to  all  those 
eminent  and  holy  men,  who  were  the  means  of  res- 
cuing the  truth  from  the  darkness  and  perversion, 
which  had  overwhelmed  it,  during  the  long  period  of 
papal  superstition. 

There  was  not  one  Arminian  or  Antinomian  in 
this  Assembly;  much  less  one  Unitarian  or  Pelagian. 
The  only  matters  of  discussion  respecting  doctrines, 
were  concerning  the  best  method  of  expressing  the 
truth.  The  committee,  to  take  charge  of  this  im- 
portant concern,  was  not  appointed  until  the  9th  of 
May,  1645.  They  were,  Dr.  Gouge,  Dr.  Hayle,  Mr. 
Herle,  Mr.  Gataker,  Mr.  Vines,  Dr.  Tuckney,  and 
Dr.  Reynolds.  The  first  thing  done  by  this  able  com- 
mittee, was,  to  settle  the  ''titles'^  of  the  several  chap- 
ters, into  which  the  work  was  to  be  divided,  Avhich 
were  thirty-two  in  number,  and  the  very  same  which 
we  now  find  in  the  Confession  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly.  For  the  sake  of  greater  expedition  in  pre- 
paring the  work,  these  chapters  were  distributed 
among  several  sub-committees,  into  which  the  gene- 
ral committee  divided  themselves.  These  sub-com- 
mittees sat  two  days  in  every  week,  and  when  they 


76 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


had  completed  the  work  assigned  to  them,  respect- 
ively, they  reported  to  the  whole  committee,  by  whom 
every  thing  was  revised;  and  when  they  had  agreed 
on  the  form  of  the  articles,  the  same  were  reported  to 
the  Assembly,  where  every  thing,  after  being  publicly 
read,  was  considered,  and,  if  need  be,  discussed,  until 
all,  or  a  majority  were  satisfied.  This  was  done  para- 
graph by  paragraph. 

It  cannot,  therefore,  with  truth  be  said,  that  the 
Confession  of  Faith  was  drawn  up  by  any  one  man, 
for  the  several  parts  were  prepared  by  different  com- 
mittees; and  it  is  a  matter  of  no  importance,  for  in 
such  cases,  the  draughtsman  of  an  instrum.ent  may 
not  be  the  person  who  gives  it  its  impress  and  shape. 
He  may  be  little  more  than  the  amanuensis,  to  word 
the  ideas,  verbally  expressed,  by  minds  of  a  higher 
grade.  In  consequence  of  the  protracted  debates  re- 
specting the  form  of  government  and  directory  of 
public  worship,  the  Confession  was  not  finished  until 
the  26th  of  November,  1648,  when  Mr.  Herle,  the 
prolocutor,  returned  thanks,  in  the  name  of  the  As- 
sembly, to  the  several  committees  who  had  had  this 
work  in  charge.  The  work  seems  to  have  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  Assembly,  from  time  to  time,  for 
more  than  a  year,  and  to  have  occupied  a  very  small 
portion  of  their  time;  every  thing  having  been  pre- 
pared and  well  digested  by  the  committee,  before  it 
was  presented  to  the  Assembly. 

In  '^  Baillie's  Letters,'^  there  is  scarcely  a  mention 
of  any  dispute  on  the  several  parts  of  the  Confession. 
In  one  place, — and  this  seems  to  be  the  only  one, — 
he  says,  in  writing  to  his  friends  in  Scotland,  ^'  In  the 
Assembly,  we  are  going  on  with  the  '  Confession  of 
Faith.'  We  had  long  and  tough  debates  about  the 
decrees  of  election;  yet,  thanks  to  God,  all  is  gone 
right,  according  to  our  mind.''  And  Neal,  who  is 
more  full  than  any  other  writer,  respecting  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Assembly,  says  little  or  nothing  re- 
specting disputes  about  the  articles  of  religion.  Dr. 
Lightfoot's  journal  closes  before  the  Confession  was 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  77 

brought  under  consideration  by  the  Assembly.  In  a 
letter  of  BailHe  to  his  cousin,  Mr.  Spang,  under  date  of 
November,  1645,  we  find  a  notice  of  the  successful  pro- 
gress of  this  work,  in  the  following  words: — "We  go 
on  in  the  Assembly  now  with  pretty  good  speed.  We 
have  passed  the  heads  of  Scripture — God — Trini- 
ty— Decrees — Providence  —  Redemption — Cove- 
nants—  Justification  —  Sanctification  —  P'ree- 
wiLL — Sacraments,  in  general — a  part  of  Perse- 
verance— and  the  Lord's  Supper." 

It  seems  probable,  that  great  assistance  in  forming, 
not  only  the  "Confession  of  Faith,"  but  also  the 
Catechisms,  Form  of  Government,  and  Directory 
FOR  Worship,  was  derived  from  the  Scottish  commis- 
sioners, and  especially  from  Mr.  Alexander  Hender- 
son. For  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  attested  by  Baillie, 
that  in  the  General  Assembly  of  Scotland,  in  the  year 
1641,  of  which  Alexander  Henderson  was  moderator, 
among  other  overtures,  there  was  one  from  the  mode- 
rator himself,  which  is  described  by  Baillie,  "as  a 
notable  motion  of  drawing  up  a  Confession  of 
Faith,  a  Catechism,  a  Directory  for  all  parts 
of  Public  Worship,  and  a  Platform  of  Govern- 
ment, wherein  possibly  England  and  we  might  agree. 
All  approved  the  motion,  and  thereafter  the  burden 
of  that  labour  was  laid  on  the  back  of  the  mover, 
with  liberty  to  vaike  (desist)  from  preaching,  when- 
ever he  pleased,  and  to  take  help  of  whom  he  thought 
meet.  He  did  not  incline  to  undertake  it,"  says 
Baillie,  "  yet  it  will  be  on  him,  and  readily  in  this  he 
may  do  some  good." 

The  same  fact  is  mentioned  by  Dr.  Aiton,  the 
biographer  of  Henderson,  in  the  following  words: — 
"  It  was  on  Wednesday,  the  28th  of  July,  1641,  that 
Henderson  first  suggested  to  the  Assembly,  the  pro- 
priety of  drawing  up  a  "Confession  of  Faith,"  Cate- 
chism, and  a  Directory  for  all  the  parts  of  public 
worship.  His  first  intention  seems  to  have  been  to 
frame  the  system  in  such  a  way,  as  to  make  it  agree- 
able to  the  worshippers  on  both  sides  of  the  Tweed. 
But  there  is  no  compromise  of  Presbyterianism  in  it 


78 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


from  beginning  to  end,  so  as  to  support  the  Kpiscopa- 
lian  principles  of  the  EngUsh." 

There  is  no  doubt,  then,  that  this  work  was  per- 
formed and  adopted  by  the  kirk  of  Scotland;  and 
there  is  evidence  that  the  Scottish  commissioners  made 
comm-unications  of  their  views  on  some  of  these 
points  to  the  committees  who  had  these  important 
works  in  charge.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  the 
outline,  at  least,  of  the  Confession,  as  drawn  up  by 
the  Assembly  of  Divines,  at  Westminster,  originated 
in  Scotland,  and  was  the  work  of  Mr.  Henderson; 
and  this  will  account  for  the  readiness  and  unanimity 
with  which  the  General  Assembly  of  Scotland  adopted 
these  formularies  of  the  English  Assembly.  Ttiey 
were,  in  substance,  their  own. 

When  the  confession  was  completed,  Dr.  Burges 
was  directed  to  cause  it  to  be  fairly  transcribed,  in 
order  to  its  being  presented  to  the  Parliament.  On 
the  11th  of  December,  1646,  the  whole  Assembly 
went  in  a  body  to  the  parliament,  and  presented  the 
Articles  of  Religion,  which  they  had  prepared 
and  approved,  under  the  following  title,  "  The  hum- 
ble ADVICE  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY  OF  DiVINES  AND 
OTHERS,  NOW  BY  AUTHORITY  OF  PARLIAMENT,  SIT- 
TING AT  Westminster,  concerning  a  Confes- 
sion OF  Faith."  The  House  of  Commons  having 
voted  the  Assembly  thanks  for  their  care  and  labour, 
in  bringing  this  important  work  to  a  conclusion,  de- 
sired them  to  insert  the  proofs  in  their  proper  places, 
and  then  to  have  six  hundred  copies  printed,  for  the 
perusal  of  the  members  of  Parharnent,  and  no  more. 
The  committee  appointed  by  the  Assembly  to  collect 
the  Scripture  proofs,  for  the  confirmation  of  (he  arti- 
cles of  religion,  were,  Mr.  Wilson,  Mr.  Byfield,  and 
Mr.  Gower.  When  they  had  finished  the  work 
assigned  to  them,  and  had  reported  the  result  to  the 
Assembly,  it  was  ordered,  that  these  proofs  should  be 
printed  in  the  margin  of  the  Confession.  When  this 
was  executed,  the  whole  Confession,  with  the  proofs, 
was  once  more  submitted  to  the  review  of  three  com- 
mittees, who  made  report  to  the  Assembly,  of  such 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  79 

Other  amendments  as  they  thought  necessary;  and 
when  these  were  approved  by  the  house,  the  work 
was  sent  to  the  press.  This  event  did  not  occur  until 
the  11th  of  May,  1647. 

By  order  of  the  House  of  Commons,  Mr.  Byfield 
dehvered  to  the  members  of  Parliament,  copies  of  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  with  Scripture  proofs,  signed  by 
Charles  Herle,  prolocutor;  Cornelius  Burges,  and  Her- 
bert Palmer,  assessors;  and  Henry  Roborough,  and 
Adoniram  Byfield,  scribes.  ^ 

The  House  of  Commons  commenced  their  examina- 
tion of  the  Confession  of  Faith  on  the  9th  of  May, 
1647,  and  went  over  the  whole  of  the  first  chapter, 
article  by  article.  But  further  progress  in  the  work 
of  revision,  was  interrupted  by  the  disturbances  which 
now  arose  between  the  parliament  and  the  army;  so 
that  daring  the  whole  summer,  nothing  more  was 
done.  In  October,  the  work  was  resumed,  and  it 
was  adopted  as  a  rule,  to  discuss,  at  least  one  chapter 
of  the  Confession,  every  Wednesday;  by  observing 
which,  they  were  able  to  get  through  the  v/ork  by  the 
month  of  March,  1648.  For,  on  the  22d  of  that 
month,  we  find  that  the  House  of  Commons,  at  a  con- 
ference with  the  House  of  Lords,  presented  to  them 
THE  Confession  of  Faith,  as  passed  by  them,  with 
some  alterations. 

The  House  of  Lords,  having,  in  their  turn,  consid- 
ered and  approved  the  doctrines  of  this  Confession, 
on  the  20th  of  June,  1648,  parliament  ordered  it  to  be 
published,  for  the  satisfaction  of  foreign  cluirches, 
under  the  title  of  *' Articles  of  Religion,  appro- 
ved AND  PASSED  BY  BOTH  HoUSES  OF  PARLIAMENT, 
AFTER  ADVICE  HAD  WITH  AN  ASSEMBLY  OF  DiVINES, 
CALLED    TOGETHER    BY    THEM    FOR    THAT    PURPOSE." 

They  did  not  think  proper  to  call  it  a  Confession 
OF  Faith,  because  the  articles  did  not  begin  with  the 
words,  "I  CONFESS,"  nor  did  they  judge  it  expedient 

'  Dr.  Twisse  died  before  the  Assembly  had  been  in  session  more 
than  one  year,  and  Mr.  Ilerle  was  appointed  in  his  place;  and  as  Mr. 
Whyte,  on  account  of  bodily  infirmity,  could  not  perform  the  duties 
of  an  assessor,  Mr.  Palmer  was  substituted  in  his  room. 


80  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

to  annex  the  chapters,  on  church  government,  con- 
cerning which  the  members  of  ParUament  were  not 
agreed  among  themselves.  These  chapters,  there- 
fore, were  never  pubhshed  by  order  of  Parhament, 
nor  did  they  ever  receive  their  sanction;  for,  in  the 
first  place,  they  were  re-committed,  and  finally  laid 
aside. 

The  whole  Confession,  with  the  proofs,  and  also 
the  form  of  government,  were  transmitted  to  Scot- 
land immediately,  and  there  received  the  approbation 
both  of  the  General  Assembly  and  the  Parliament  of 
that  kingdom.  Every  thing  in  these  formularies 
seems  to  have  been  in  exact  accordance  with  the 
minds  of  the  ministers  and  people  of  Scotland ;  for 
they  adopted  the  whole,  without  delay,  and  without 
alteration  just  as  it  was  prepared  by  the  Westminster 
Assembly;  and  thus  the  Westminster  Confession  and 
form  of  church  government  became  the  established 
doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  church  of  Scotland;  and 
so  they  continue  to  be,  without  alteration  unto  this 
day. 

The  unanimity  in  agreeing  to  so  many  articles  of  reli- 
gion has  already  been  noticed;  but  candour  requires 
it  to  be  stated,  that  although  the  vote  of  approbation 
of  the  Confession,  was  carried  by  a  great  majority  both 
in  the  Assembly  and  the  Parliament,  yet  there  were 
a  few  dissentients  in  both  these  bodies,  who  although 
they  were  Anti-Arminian,  yet  were  unable  to  concur 
in  every  point  of  doctrine  there  determined,  and  in 
every  form  of  expression  there  used. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms. 

While  the  Confession  of  Faith  was  passing  through 
the  Assembly  by  the  report  of  the  committees  who 
had  it  in  charge,  two  other  committees  were  appointed 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  81 

to  reduce  the  substance  of  this  system  of  doctrines 
into  the  form  of  Catechisms;  one  larger,  for  the  ser- 
vice of  a  public  exposition  in  the  pulpit,  according  to 
the  custom  of  foreign  churches;  the  other  smaller, 
for  the  instruction  of  children,  in  the  principal  doc- 
trines of  the  Christian  religion.  In  both  of  them,  the 
articles  relating  to  church  government  and  discipline, 
are  entirely  omitted.  The  Larger  Catechism  is  a 
comprehensive  and  excellent  system  of  divinity;  and 
it  would  be  well  if  every  young  preacher,  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  were  required  to  commit  it 
accurately  to  memory,  before  he  undertakes  to  preach 
in  public. 

The  committee  to  whom  was  committed  the  work 
of  reducing  the  Confession  of  Faith  into  the  form  of  a 
catechism,  were  Dr.  Tuckney,  Dr.  Arrowsmith,  and 
Dr.  Newcommen;  and  the  .composition  of  the  Larger 
Catechism  has  been  commonly  attributed  to  the  di- 
vine first  named.  There  is  often  less  credit  due  to 
the  compilers  of  such  formularies  than  they  receive. 
Dr.  Tuckney,  no  doubt,  was  an  accurate,  sound,  and 
learned  theologian.  But  if  any  one  will  take  the 
pains  to  compare  the  short  Latin  system  of  Wollebius 
with  our  Larger  Catechism,  he  will  find  in  the  latter 
a  very  good  translation  of  the  former,^  and  will  be 
convinced  that  this  short  manual  must  have  been 
familiar  to  the  person  or  persons  who  composed  this 
excellent  formulary. 

The  Shorter  Catechism  is  an  excellent  summary  of 
Christian  doctrine;  and  has  very  much  the  appearance 
of  being  an  abridgment  of  the  Larger;  but  the  histori- 
cal fact  is,  that  the  Shorter  Catechism  was  first  finished 
and  reported  to  the  Assembly.  The  resem.blance,  not 
only  in  doctrine,  but  in  language,  between  these  two 
Catechisms,  can  be  accounted  for,  by  considering,  that 
they  were  both  founded  on  the  Confession  of  Faith: 
and  the  similarity  spoken  of,  which  was  no  doubt 
designed,  even  as  it  related  to  words,  might  as  well 

J  Rushworth's  Collections. 
6 


82  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

arise  from  enlarging  the  Shorter,  as  from  abridging 
the  Larger. 

The  Shorter  Catechism,  according  to  Rnshvvorth, 
was  presented  November  5,  1647;  but  the  larger,  not 
until  April,  1648,  when  six  hundred  copies  were 
ordered  to  be  printed,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Confes- 
sion, for  the  use  of  the  members  of  parliament,  who, 
having  examined  and  approved  it,  ordered  it  lo  be 
published,  by  authority,  for  common  use. 

These  excellent  Catechisms  have  been  so  long  in 
use,  and  so  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  agree  in  the 
system  of  doctrines  which  they  contain,  that  it  would 
be  a  work  of  supererogation  to  eulogize  them  now. 
In  tlie  negotiations  with  the  king,  which  were  carried 
on  at  the  Isle  of  Wight,  even  he  offered  to  license  the 
Shorter  Catechism,  with  a  suitable  preface;  but  that 
treaty  proving  unsuccessful,  the  object  was  not  accom- 
plished. 

It  has  often  been  said,  by  judicious  men,  that  a 
better  summary  of  the  orthodox  faith  could  not  be 
penned,  than  the  Shorter  Catechism  of  the  West- 
minster Assembly  of  Divines.  It  has  been  the  vehi- 
cle of  conveying  to  the  minds  of  millions,  for  two  hun- 
dred years,  nearly,  a  concise  but  comprehensive  view 
of  the  doctrines  of  the  reformation.  Though  often 
committed  and  repeated,  by  many  who  never  se- 
riously consider  the  truths  which  it  contains,  yet  it  is 
exceedingly  important  to  have  such  a  form  of  sound 
words  lodged  in  the  memory,  especially  if  committed, 
as  it  should  be,  in  connexion  with  some  of  the  clearest 
and  strongest  proof-texts,  on  which  the  doctrine  of 
each  answer  is  founded,  that  all  may  understand  that 
their  faith  should  rest  on  the  word  of  God,  and  not  on 
the  authority  of  men.  But  where  this  Catechism  is 
judiciously  used  by  parents  and  pastors,  the  truths 
contained  in  it  will  be  doctrinally  understood;  and 
even  if  the  catechumen  should  lead  a  life  not  conform- 
able to  the  precepts  here  inculcated;  yet  at  a  future 
day,  these  neglected  and  resisted  truths  may  be  the 
means  of  the  sinner's  conviction,  and  a  most  import- 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  83 

ant  light  to  guide  him  to  salvation,  under  the  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

The  Larger  Catechism  has  never  come  into  com- 
mon use,  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  principally- 
intended;  that  is,  to  be  a  ground  work  for  lectures  to 
the  people.  But  it  is  an  exceedingly  valuable  compend, 
to  aid  parents,  and  ministers  also,  in  the  discharge  of 
the  duty  of  instructing  the  young.  The  writer  recol- 
lects to  have  heard  an  anecdote,  which,  as  the  parties 
are  long  since  dead,  it  n^ay  not  be  out  of  place  to  re- 
late. A  young  licentiate,  fresh  from  the  schools,  and 
having  his  memory  stuffed  with  the  titles  of  numerous 
books  of  theological  learning,  called  upon  a  grave  and 
simple,  but  profoundly  pious  clergyman,  and  began, 
in  rather  an  assuming  and  self-confident  manner,  to 
exhibit  his  extensive  acquaintance  with  authors,  new 
and  old,  many  of  whom  this  country  clergyman  had 
not  yet  seen,  and  some  of  whom  he  had  never  heard 
of.  The  aged  minister,  after  having  listened  to  this 
parade  of  book-learning,  replied  with  great  apparent 
simplicity  and  modesty,  "  After  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
I  have  found  the  Westminster  Larger  Catechism  of 
more  service  to  me,  in  preparing  for  the  duties  of  the 
pulpit,  than  all  my  other  books.''  Whether  it  was 
intended  as  a  delicate  rebuke  of  the  pedantry  of  the 
young  licentiate,  or  not,  it  had  the  effect  of  bringing 
him  down  from  his  elevated  flight,  to  a  more  humble 
state,  and  afforded  exquisite  gratification  to  some  in- 
telligent persons  who  were  present  at  the  interview. 

If  a  young  preacher  of  very  moderate  talents,  and 
humble  literary  attainments,  would  agree  to  take  this 
compend  as  his  guide,  in  delivering  a  systematic  series 
of  discourses  to  his  flock,  and  often  employing,  avow- 
edly, the  very  language  of  this  formulary,  it  is  more 
than  probable,  that  by  the  time  he  had  finished  such 
a  course,  his  people  would  be  better  informed,  on  the 
doctrine  and  duties  of  religion,  than  many  who  hear 
a  succession  of  elaborate  and  eloquent  sermons,  on 
insulated  texts.  And  if  young  persons,  who  possess 
a  retentive  memory,  would  redeem  time,  to  commit 
carefully  to  memory,  the  answers  in  this  Catechism, 


84 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


it  would  be  a  richer  treasure  than  they  could  readily- 
lay  up  in  the  same  time.  It  would  enrich  the  mind 
with  the  very  best  kind  oHcnowledge;  would  furnish 
the  individual  with  a  scriptural  standard  by  which  to 
try  tl^p  doctrines  which  he  might  hear,  or  the  books 
which  might  fall  in  his  way;  and  would  be  a  source 
of  consolation  in  old  age,  by  supplying  suitable  sub- 
jects for  meditation,  when  other  means  of  instruction 
might  not  be  accessible.  If  there  has  been  a  declen- 
sion from  the  pure  doctrines  of  our  Confession  of 
Faith  and  Catechisms,  this  has  been  in  a  great  mea- 
sure owing  to  the  neglect  of  these  formularies,  and  a 
decay  of  catechetical  instruction.  Other  means,  by 
producing  more  immediate  excitement,  may  promise 
a  richer  harvest  to  the  pastor,  solicitous  for  the  salva- 
tion of  his  people;  but  if  he  should,  under  these  views, 
neglect,  or  slightly  attend  to  the  duty  of  catechising, 
he  will  not  fail  to  be  convinced  of  his  mistake,  when 
these  excitements  have  subsided  and  left  the  people 
more  insensible  than  before  they  were  experienced. 
It  will  not  do  to  substitute  mere  feeling  for  divine 
knowledge.  If  there  be  a  practical  truth,  fully  con- 
firmed by  all  experience,  it  is,  that  all  true  religion  is 
founded  on  knowledge;  and  that  strong  impressions 
on  the  minds  of  the  ignorant,  where  no  solid  founda- 
tion of  knowledge  is  laid,  are  generally  temporary, 
and,  however  promising,  leave  the  person  in  a  worse 
state  than  they  found  him;  as  iron  becomes  harder  in 
consequence  of  being  heated  and  then  cooled. 

The  harmony  with  which  all  parties  in  the  Assem- 
bly at  Westminster  agreed  in  adopting  the  orthodox 
system  contained  in  these  formularies,  furnishes  a 
pleasing  evidence  that  the  great  body  of  the  ministers 
of  the  established  church,  notwithstanding  the  efforts 
of  fraud  to  give  currency  to  Arminianism,  still  adhered 
steadfastly  to  Calvinistic  doctrine.  The  doctrines  of 
these  Catechisms  have  been  admitted  by  all,  to  be  in 
exact  conformity  with  the  creeds  and  confessions  of 
all  other  reformed  churches,  and  with  the  writings  of 
all  the  distinguished  theologians  in  those  churches. 
The  divines  of  this  Assembly  were  actuated  by  no 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  85 

prurient  love  of  novelty;  nor  did  they  imagine  that 
the  system  of  orthodox  theology,  which  they  had 
received  from  those  who  preceded  them,  needed  any 
improvement,  or  was  capable  of  amendment.  Their 
object  was  clearly  to  exhibit  and  strongly  to  confirm 
the  common  faith  of  the  reformed  churches,  and  to  give 
it  such  a  form  as  would  be  most  convenient  for  the 
instruction  of  the  people. 

This  system  of  truth  must  have  been  deeply  radi- 
cated in  the  parish  churches  of  England,  when  so 
many  pastors,  selected  from  every  part  of  the  country, 
were,  without  one  exception,  so  sound  in  the  faith. 

The  same  remark  applies  with  still  greater  force  to 
the  members  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament.  What 
an  extraordinary  fact,  that  so  many  hundred  noble- 
men and  gentlemen,  from  every  city,  borough  and 
county,  should  all,  or  nearly  all,  have  been  the  staunch 
friends  of  orthodoxy.  We  do  not  find,  even  among 
the  secular  men,  many  of  whom  possessed  extraordi- 
nary learning  and  abilities,  a  single  infidel,  Unitarian, 
Pelagian,  or  even  Arminian.  In  regard  to  sound 
doctrine,  this  was  surely  the  age  of  England's  glory. 
Soon,  it  is  lamentably  true,  she  began  to  fall  from  this 
high  standing,  and  became  so  corrupt  in  doctrine  and 
practice,  that  if  it  had  been  possible,  the  ruling  powers 
of  church  and  state,  would  have  driven  serious  god- 
liness out  of  the  land;  and  now,  although  the  doc- 
trines of  grace  are  cordially  embraced  and  preached, 
by  many  in  that  country;  yet  a  vast  majority  of  the 
guides  of  the  people,  it  is  to  be  feared,  are  "  blind 
leaders  of  the  blind."  Even  the  Dissenters,  who 
are  the  descendants  of  the  persecuted  Puritans,  do 
not  all  adhere  to  the  sound  doctrines  of  the  West- 
minster Assembly.  Many  of  them,  alas!  have  de- 
generated into  the  barren  fields  of  Unitarianism,  and, 
in  consequence,  have  been  long  declining  in  numbers. 
But  even  among  orthodox  dissenters,  there  has  not 
been  a  rigid  adherence  to  the  doctrines  of  the  West- 
minster Assembly.  While  the  Shorter  Catechism  is 
still  in  use,  "new  divinity"  has  been  there,  as  well 
as  here,  too  much  countenanced,  under  the  impression, 


86 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


that  the  rough  points  in  the  Calvinistic  system  could 
be  polished  off,  so  as  to  be  rendered  more  acceptable 
to  men  of  reason.  The  idea  has  extensively  pre- 
vailed, on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  that  however 
sound  our  fathers  were  in  the  faith,  they  were  very 
deficient  in  philosophy;  and  it  has  been  received 
almost  as  a  maxim,  that  the  philosophy  of  the  present 
day,  is  far  more  improved,  than  the  clumsy  systems 
of  our  fathers  of  the  17th  century.  But  it  has  been 
found,  that  while  under  this  pretext,  one  step  of  devi- 
ation from  the  old  orthodoxy  has  been  taken,  no  con- 
venient stopping  place  has  been  found;  and  this  pre- 
tended light  of  philosophy,  has  proved  a  mere  2g7iis 
fatutts,  to  delude  those  unwary  souls  who  followed 
it.  No  doubt,  there  are  many  "hard  sayings"  in  the 
Bible;  many  difficulties  which  no  human  ingenuity 
can  entirely  remove  or  solve.  Sometimes,  by  reject- 
ing that  part  of  the  truth  which  appears  most  objec- 
tionable, it  is  hoped,  that  the  difficulty  will  be  removed, 
and  the  truth  recommended  to  reasonable  men.  But 
in  such  departures  from  orthodoxy,  the  relief  is  only 
apparent;  for  although  we  may  escape  a  more  obvi- 
ous and  prominent  difficulty,  we  are  sure  to  find  one 
more  untractable,  arising  out  of  our  new  hypothesis; 
and  if  to  avoid  this,  we  reject  something  more  of  the 
orthodox  doctrine,  we  only  plunge  deeper  into  the 
mire,  until  at  last,  we  are  obliged,  for  consistency 
sake,  to  give  up  the  whole  system,  or  retrace  our 
steps,  and  return  to  the  point  of  our  first  deviation 
from  the  straight  line  of  truth. 

Let  us  then,  as  Presbyterians,  hold  fast  the  form  of 
sound  words,  received  from  our  fathers,  and  transmit 
the  sacred  deposit,  unimpaired  to  those  who  are  to 
come  after  us,  that  they,  in  their  turn,  may  hand  down 
the  precious  treasure,  unalloyed,  to  another  genera- 
tion, and  so  on,  to  the  end  of  time.  Let  these  ortho- 
dox and  instructive  catechisms  be  restored  to  their 
proper  place,  as  household  books,  among  Presbyte- 
rians. Let  the  Sabbath  evening,  as  was  formerly  the 
practice  with  our  fathers,  be  devoted  to  family  cate- 
chising.    Look  at  the  youth  of  those  families,  who 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  87 

in  our  degenerate  age,  have  been  so  trained,  and  see 
how  Httle  they  are  carried  away  with  novelties  in 
reHgion.  Regard  not  the  sneers  of  errorists  and  en- 
thusiasts, who  despise  doctrinal  knowledge,  and  pre- 
tend that  such  religious  instruction  only  serves  to 
make  formalists,  or  hypocrites.  It  remains  a  sound 
maxim,  that  if  you  bring  up  a  child  in  the  way  in 
which  he  should  go,  when  he  is  old  he  will  not  depart 
from  it.  As,  in  the  spring,  you  sow  your  seed  in  the 
ground,  not  knowing  what  will  become  of  it,  so  im- 
plant, the  word  of  God  in  the  susceptible  minds  of 
youth,  and  commit  the  event  to  God.  He  will  cause 
it  to  prosper. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Form  of  Church  Government. 

The  people  of  England  had  always  been  accustomed 
to  the  Episcopal  form  of  church  government;  but  this 
having  been  found  unedifying  and  oppressive,  there 
existed  an  urgent  and  increasing  demand  for  a  change. 
At  first,  no  more  was  thought  of  than  such  a  reduced 
form  of  Episcopacy,  as  had  been  recommended  by 
archbishop  Usher,  but  after  the  arrival  of  the  Scottish 
commissioners,  and  an  acquaintance  was  had  with 
the  Presbyterian  system,  as  practised  in  the  kirk  of 
Scotland,  a  large  majority  of  the  Westminster  divines 
were  strongly  inclined  to  adopt  that  system;  and,  after 
examining  the  subject,  were  convinced  that  this  was 
the  system  which  had  its  origin  in  the  Scriptures  of 
truth,  and  was  most  accordant  with  the  practice  of 
the  Apostles,  and  primitive  ages  of  Christianity.  This 
system  is  founded  on  a  few  plain  principles,  which  as 
they  are  accordant  with  Scripture,  so  they  commend 
themselves  to  the  reason  of  unprejudiced  and  impar- 
tial men.  These  are,  that  Christ  has  appointed  and 
established,  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  a  certain  definite 


88 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


form  of  government  for  his  church,  and  has  not  left 
this  important  concern  to  be  regulated  by  the  wisdom 
or  caprice  of  fallible  men.  And  that  as  the  church 
is  ONE,  wherever  the  members  may  be  scattered,  or 
however  many  particular  churches  may  be  consti- 
tuted, they  are  included  in  this  one  body;  and  there- 
fore, as  far  as  circumstances  will  admit,  all  the  parts 
of  this  body  should  be  united  in  one  communion;  and 
where  actual  fellowship  in  worship  is  impracticable, 
or  very  inconvenient,  yet  there  should  exist  a  unity 
of  spirit,  love  to  all  the  members  of  the  body,  and  a 
mutual  sympathy  or  tender  concern  for  each  other's 
welfare.  The  several  societies,  or  churches,  there- 
fore, of  which  this  Catholic  church  consists,  should 
not  be  considered  as  independent  societies,  but  as  con- 
nected parts  of  one  body,  having  one  head,  and  per- 
vaded and  united  by  one  spirit.  The  actions  and 
operations  of  the  several  parts  should  be  in  subordi- 
nation to  the  whole,  or  to  a  majority  of  the  whole. 
This  being  an  organized  body,  is  furnished  with 
officers,  for  the  purpose  of  communicating  instruction, 
and  for  the  orderly  government  of  the  society.  These 
offices  were  expressly  instituted  by  Christ,  the  King 
OF  ZioN,  before  he  left  the  world.  Some  of  them 
were,  at  first,  endowed  with  extraordinary  powers; 
but  the  ordinary  and  permanent  officers  of  the  church 
are  pastors  or  teachers,  elders  who  rule,  and  deacons 
or  ministers,  who  have  charge  of  the  alms  of  the 
church,  for  the  supply  of  the  wants  of  the  poor.  As 
to  bishops  and  presbyters,  the  Holy  Scriptures  make 
no  manner  of  difference  between  them.  These  names 
are  used,  in  Scripture,  promiscuously,  and  applied 
indifferently  to  the  same  officers.  The  difference 
which,  in  ages  after  the  Apostles,  sprung  up,  has 
no  foundation  or  vestige  in  the  sacred  record.  How 
it  arose,  it  is  not  difficult  to  explain.  The  Apostles, 
indeed,  were  invested  with  authority  over  all  the 
churches,  and  all  the  other  ministers;  but  as  they 
have  no  successors,  in  their  inspiration  and  miracu- 
lous gifts,  by  which  they  were  qualified  to  exercise 
such  a  power  over  their  brethren,  so  they  have  no 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  89 

successors  in  that  plenary  authority  which  Christ 
committed  to  them.  Since  their  departure  out  of  the 
world,  all  regular  pastors  and  teachers,  in  the  church 
of  Christ,  are  equal  in  authority;  no  one  being  in- 
vested with  a  power  to  rule  over  his  brethren,  in  the 
ministry,  although  each  is  appointed  a  ruler  as  well 
as  an  instructer,  over  the  flock  of  which  he  has  been 
regularly  constituted  the  bishop.  As  all  Christ's 
minister's  should  aid  one  another  by  their  counsels, 
and  should  assist  in  preserving  the  purity,  unity,  and 
peace  of  the  church,  it  is  expedient  for  the  officers  of 
Christ's  kingdom  to  meet  from  time  to  time,  either 
periodically,  or  as  occasion  may  require,  to  consult 
and  determine,  respecting  all  things  which  are  con- 
nected with  the  welfare  of  the  church.  And  as  the 
body  is  one,  a  smaller  part  should  yield  to  the  will 
and  authority  of  the  greater:  so  for  the  wise  and  or- 
derly government  of  the  whole,  it  is  expedient  to  have 
a  gradation  of  courts  or  judicatories,  from  the  autho- 
rities which  pertain  to  a  particular  church,  through 
as  many  gradations  as  may  have  been  established,  up 
to  the  highest  judicatory,  which  can  be  convened  with 
convenience,  for  the  decision  of  all  matters,  according 
to  the  word  of  God,  which  may  relate  to  the  welfare 
and  increase  of  the  church. 

The  two  radical  principles  of  Presbyterial  church 
government,  therefore,  are,  the  parity  of  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  or  the  identity  of  bishops  and  presbyters; 
and  the  regulation  of  all  matters  in  the  church,  by  the 
counsel  and  will  of  the  whole  body,  or  their  repre- 
sentatives, which  comprehends  the  subordination  of 
inferior  to  superior  judicatories.  This  form  of  church 
polity  was  adopted  by  all  branches  of  the  Reformed 
churches,  except  England,  and  was  administered  by 
consistorial,  classical,  and  synodical  judicatories;  but 
was  no  where  more  perfectly  carried  out  into  prac- 
tice, in  all  its  details,  than  in  Scotland,  in  the  time  of 
Andrew  Melville,  who  by  his  unwearied  exertions 
and  consummate  wisdom,  had  the  whole  system 
fully  matured  and  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  Scotland.     Although  the  beauty  and  consistency 


90  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

of  Presbyterial  government  had  been  deformed  and 
disturbed  by  the  introduction  of  anomalous  bishops, 
yet  in  the  memorable  Assembly  of  1638,  this  excres- 
cence on  Presbytery  was  thrown  off,  and  the  system 
restored  to  its  original  simplicity  and  purity.  This 
was  the  model  which  the  Westminster  Assembly  had 
in  their  view,  and  with  which  they  were  made  ac- 
quainted, by  the  learned  Commissioners  of  the  church 
of  Scotland,  and  by  the  writings  communicated  by 
them,  to  the  members  of  the  Assembly. 

Concerning  Episcopacy,  there  were  no  disputes  in 
the  Assembly,  at  Westminster;  for  after  the  expulsion 
of  Dr.  Featly  there  remained  no  advocate  for  diocesan 
Episcopacy  in  the  body.  But  there  were  a  few  learned 
and  able  men,  who  had  adopted  the  principles  of  the 
Brownists,  in  regard  to  the  independence  of  particular 
churches,  and  who,  while  they  divested  the  system  of 
its  most  extravagant  features,  strenuously  and  tena- 
ciously defended  the  system  of  the  independency  of 
churches.  Much  of  the  time  of  the  Assembly  was 
occupied  with  this  dispute,  in  which  the  Independent 
members,  though  few  in  number,  by  their  zeal  and 
pertinacity,  often  kept  off  a  decision  of  questions  in 
debate,  for  weeks  together.  Their  principal  speakers 
were.  Dr.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Nye,  and  Mr.  Bridges.  The 
Erastian  party,  while  they  strenuously  opposed  every 
resolution  which  involved  the  divine  right  of  any 
form  of  church  government;  yet  had  no  objections  to 
the  establishment  of  presbytery,  on  mere  grounds  of 
expediency.  Finally,  the  Presbyterial  system  was 
adopted  by  the  Assembly,  by  a  large  majority.  In- 
deed, the  vote  may  be  considered  as  nearly  unani- 
mous, for  before  it  was  taken,  the  Independents  and 
most  of  the  Erastians  withdrew,  and  the  Presbyterians 
were  left  in  the  quiet  possession  of  the  Assembly. 

The  dissolution  of  the  ecclesiastical  hierarchy  of 
the  church  of  England,  may  be  considered  as  having 
virtually  taken  place  from  the  time  of  the  taking  of 
the  Covenant  by  the  Parliament,  the  Assembly,  and 
the  nation;  for  in  that  instrument,  the  overthrow  of 
church  government  by  archbishops,  bishops,  &c.,  was 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  91 

explicitly  designated,  as  one  great  object  of  this  so- 
lemn league.  The  archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  di- 
rected by  Parliament  to  collate  benefices  on  no  per- 
sons without  their  approbation;  and  for  refusing  obe- 
dience to  this  order,  was  suspended  from  his  office. 
Henceforward,  all  benefices  were  conferred  by  the 
Parliament,  and  the  Assembly  were  made  use  of,  to 
examine  all  candidates,  and  ultimately,  to  provide  for 
the  ordination  of  ministers.  In  process  of  time,  this 
business  of  examining  candidates  for  sequestered  liv- 
ings, occupied  so  much  of  the  time  of  the  Assembly, 
that  they  appointed  a  large  committee  to  attend  to 
it.  The  members  selected  were.  Dr.  Lightfoot,  Dr. 
Smith,  Dr.  Temple,  Dr.  Tuckney,  Dr.  Gouge,  Dr. 
Staunton,  Dr.  Hayle,  Dr.  Burges,  Dr.  Spurstow,  Dr. 
Reynolds,  Mr.  Ley,  Mr.  Conant,  Mr.  Gower,  Mr. 
Coleman,  Mr.  Hill,  Mr.  Corbet,  Mr.  Gataker,  Mr. 
Herle,  Mr.  Whitaker,  Mr.  Bathurst,  and  Dr.  Cheynel. 
The  method  of  proceeding  was  this:  The  names  of 
the  applicants  who  had  been  recommended  by  Par- 
liament, or  who  had  petitioned  the  Assembly,  were 
published  two  or  three  days  before  the  examination, 
that  opportunity  might  be  given  to  any  who  had  any 
thing  to  allege  against  the  candidates,  to  bring  it  for- 
ward. Where  no  obstacle  appeared  in  the  way,  the 
committee,  or  any  five  of  them,  proceeded  to  the  ex- 
amination; and  it  was  also  customary  to  require  the 
candidate  to  preach  publicly  before  them.  A  list  of 
all  who  were  approved  was  ordered  to  be  kept  by  the 
scribes  of  the  Assembly. 

This  order  of  things  continued  to  be  observed  until 
the  adoption  of  the  new  form  of  government  and 
Directory. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Directory  for  Public  Worship. 

The  Assembly,  upon  their  first  organization,  directed 
their  attenion  to  an  amendment  of  the  Articles   of 


92 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


Religion,  as  being  the  most  important;  but  the  Par- 
Uament  having  virtually  abrogated  the  liturgy,  the 
churches  felt  very  much  at  a  loss  for  some  directory 
of  worship,  which  might  be  uniform  in  all  places; 
and  for  want  of  which  there  was  danger  that  great 
confusion  would  ensue.  The  Parliament,  therefore, 
to  prevent  this  evil,  and  meet  this  exigence,  sent  an 
order  to  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  commanding  them 
to  take  immediately  in  hand  the  liturgy  and  discipline 
of  the  church.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  order, 
which  proceeded  from  both  houses: 

''Die  Jovis,  October  12,  1643. 

"Upon  serious  consideration  of  the  present  state 
and  conjuncture  of  the  affairs  of  this  kingdom,  the 
Lords  and  Commons,  assembled  in  Parliament,  do 
order,  that  the  Assembly  of  Divines  and  others  do 
forthwith  confer  and  treat  among  themselves  of  such 
a  discipline  and  government  as  may  be  most  agreea- 
ble to  God's  Holy  Word,  and  most  apt  to  procure 
and  preserve  the  peace  of  the  church  at  home,  and 
nearer  agreement  with  the  church  of  Scotland  and 
other  reformed  churches  abroad,  to  be  settled  in  the 
church,  instead  and  place  of  the  present  church  gov- 
ernment, by  archbishops,  bishops,  their  chancellors, 
commissaries,  deans,  and  chapters,  archdeacons,  and 
other  ecclesiastical  officers,  depending  on  the  hier- 
archy, which  is  resolved  to  be  taken  away. 

"And  touching  and  concerning  the  Directory  of 
Worship,  or  Liturgy,  hereafter  to  be  in  the  church. 
And  to  deliver  their  advices  and  opinions  of  and 
touching  the  same,  to  both  or  either  House  of  Parlia- 
ment, with  all  the  convenient  speed  they  can." 

In  regard  to  the  forms  of  public  worship,  it  was 
found  much  easier  to  agree  in  pulling  down  than 
building  up.  The  different  habits  and  customs  of  the 
Scotch  and  English  gave  rise  to  protracted  debates 
on  questions  of  little  intrinsic  importance,  but  neces- 
sary to  be  settled,  upon  the  plan  which  all  approved, 
of  having  a  complete  uniformity  in  the  modes  of  wor- 
ship.    Concerning  public  prayer,  it  seems  to  have 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  93 

been  generally  agreed  to  lay  aside  all  definite  forms, 
such  as  they  had  been  restricted  to  use  while  the 
liturgy  was  in  force.  But  they  wished  to  avoid  the 
other  extreme  of  leaving  every  minister  to  pour  out 
promiscuously  such  petitions  as  might  occur  at  the 
moment;  they  therefore  composed  a  Directory  for 
Prayer,  containing  the  substance  of  what  ought  to  be 
included  in  the  Morning  Prayer,  offered  up  before 
the  sermon  commenced. 

As  to  the  reading  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  it  was 
agreed  by  all,  that  this  should  make  a  part  of  the 
public  service;  but  there  was  some  diversity  of  opin- 
ion respecting  the  person  who  might  read  the  Scrip- 
tures in  public;  and  some  of  the  members  of  the 
Assembly  were  of  opinion  that  the  Scriptures  should 
never  be  read  publicly  to  the  people,  without  expo- 
sition. The  only  question  much  debated  relative  to 
this  matter,  was,  whether  the  public  reading  of  the 
Scriptures  was  a  part  of  the  duty  of  the  pastoral 
office.  Dr.  Lightfoot  and  some  other  rabbinical  scho- 
lars argued  from  the  practice  of  the  Jewish  syna- 
gogue, that  the  public  reading  of  the  Scriptures  did 
not  appertain  to  the  pastor,  but  to  other  persons 
appointed  by  him.  It  was,  however,  determined  to 
be  the  duty  of  the  pastor.  The  same  was  resolved 
respecting  catechising.  The  chief  difficulty  arose  re- 
specting the  mode  of  administering  the  sacraments; 
as  whether  baptism  should  always,  or  generally,  be 
administered  in  public,  in  the  presence  of  the  church; 
which  was  determined  in  the  affirmative;  and  also 
whether  parents  themselves  should  offer  their  own 
children  in  baptism,  and  should  engage  to  bring  them 
up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord;  which 
also  received  an  affirmative  answer.  Concerning  the 
mode  of  baptism,  it  was  much  discussed,  whether 
dipping  should  be  inserted  with  sprinkling  and 
pouring,  as  an  allowable  mode.  On  this  question, 
the  Assembly  appeared  to  be  equally  divided;  but, 
upon  a  more  exact  scrutiny,  it  was  ascertained  that 
there  was  a  majority  of  one  against  inserting  this 
word ;  and  so  it  was  left  out. 


94  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

Concerning  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
almost  the  only  controversy  in  the  Assembly  was 
relative  to  the  mode  of  sitting;  whether  it  should  be 
around  the  table,  as  when  partaking  of  a  common 
meal;  or  whether  the  communicants  might  participate 
in  their  pews,  at  some  distance  from  the  table.  On 
this  subject  the  Scottish  divines  were  exceedingly 
strenuous  and  tenacious.  They  pleaded  for  a  position 
of  the  participants  at  and  around  the  table;  and  on 
this  trivial  matter,  the  Assembly  were  detained  for 
two  whole  weeks.  The  Enghsh  divines  insisted  that 
their  people  would  never  consent  to  adopt  this  custom; 
and  yet  they  were  willing  to  allow  the  Scotch  people 
to  retain  their  old  practice.  At  length  such  a  mode 
of  expression  was  adopted,  as  allowed  each  nation  to 
retain  its  own  method  of  sitting  at  the  table.  "  The 
communicants  orderly  and  gravely  sitting  round 
the  table.'' 

A  directory  was  brought  in  by  one  of  the  commit- 
tees, for  '''churching  women"  after  safe  deliverance 
in  child  birth;  but,  after  much  discussion,  it  was  laid 
aside. 

The  directions  for  preaching  the  Word  were  plain 
and  simple,  and  such  as  well  recommend  themselves 
to  the  reason  of  every  pious  man,  and  need  not  here 
be  specified,  as  the  Westminster  Directory  for  Public 
Worship  is  accessible  to  all. 

Directions  were  also  given  for  the  sanctification  of 
the  Lord's  Day — for  the  solemnization  of  marriage — 
for  visiting  the  sick — concerning  the  observance  of 
days  of  public  fasting  and  humiliation — and  also  of 
thanksgiving. 

As  to  the  ceremonies  proper  to  be  used  at  the  burial 
of  the  dead,  there  was  considerable  difference  of  opin- 
ion between  the  English  and  Scottish  divines,  respect- 
ing the  propriety  of  preaching  funeral  sermons,  or 
using  any  religious  services  on  this  occasion.  It  was, 
however,  finally  determined  that  the  body  should  be 
interred  '^without  ceremony.''  And  "kneeling  down 
and  praying  by  or  towards  the  dead  corpse,"  was 
declared  to   be   superstitious:   and  in   like   manner, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  95 

"that  praying,  reading,  and  singing,  in  going  to  and 
at  the  grave,"  having  been  so  abused,  and  no  way- 
beneficial  to  the  dead,  and  having  proved  many  ways 
hurtful  to  the  Uving,  should  be  laid  aside.  Neverthe- 
less, the  minister,  if  present,  might  put  the  people  in 
mind  of  their  duty. 

This  directory,  ho  wever,  was  not  to  be  so  interpreted 
as  to  extend  to  the  denial  of  any  civil  respects  or 
deferences  at  the  funerals  of  persons,  suited  to  their 
rank  and  condition  while  living. 

The  Directory  now  agreed  upon  was  intended  to 
supersede  the  former  Liturgy;  and  in  order  that  there 
might  remain  no  doubt  on  this  subject,  the  following 
reasons  were  assigned  for  setting  aside  the  whole 
service  of  the  Common  Prayer  Book : 

"  Because,"  say  they,  "  it  is  evident,  after  long  and 
sad  experience,  that  the  liturgy  used  in  the  church  of 
England,  notwithstanding  the  pains  and  religious  in- 
tentions of  the  compilers,  has  proved  an  offence  to 
many  of  the  godly  at  home,  and  to  the  Reformed 
Churches  abroad.  The  enjoining  the  reading  of  all 
the  prayers  heightened  the  grievances;  and  the  many 
unprofitable  and  burdensome  ceremonies  have  occa- 
sioned much  mischief,  by  disquieting  the  consciences 
of  many  who  could  not  yield  to  them.  Sundry  good 
people  have  by  this  means  been  kept  from  the  Lord's 
table,  and  many  faithful  ministers  debarred  from  the 
exercise  of  their  ministry,  to  the  ruin  of  them  and 
their  families.  The  prelates  and  their  faction  have 
raised  their  estimation  of  it  to  such  a  height,  as 
though  God  could  be  worshipped  no  other  way  but 
by  the  service-book;  in  consequence  of  which,  the 
preaching  of  the  Word  has  been  depreciated,  and  in 
some  places  entirely  neglected.  In  the  mean  time, 
the  Papists  have  made  their  advantage,  this  way, 
boasting  that  the  Common  Prayer  Book  came  up  to 
a  compliance  with  a  great  part  of  their  service;  by 
which  means  they  were  not  a  little  confirmed  in  their 
idolatry  and  superstition;  especially  of  late,  when 
new  ceremonies  were  obtruded  in  the  church  daily. 
Besides,  the  Liturgy  has  given  great  encouragement 


96  WESTMINSTER  ASSEMBLY. 

to  an  idle  and  unedifying  ministry,  who  have  chosen 
rather  to  confine  themselves  io  forms,  made  to  their 
hands,  than  to  exert  themselves  in  the  gift  of  prayer, 
which  our  Saviour  furnishes  all  those  he  calls  to  that 
office." 

*'  For  these  and  many  other  ^"eighty  considerations, 
relating  to  the  book  in  general,  besides  divers  parti- 
culars which  are  a  just  ground  of  offence,  it  is  thought 
advisable  to  set  aside  the  former  Liturgy,  with  the 
many  rites  and  ceremonies  formerly  used  in  the  wor- 
ship of  God;  not  out  of  any  affectation  of  novelty, 
nor  with  any  intention  to  disparage  our  first  Reform- 
ers; but  that  we  may  answer  in  some  measure  the 
gracious  providence  of  God,  which  now  calls  upon 
us  for  a  further  reformation;  that  we  may  satisfy  our 
own  consciences;  answer  the  expectations  of  other 
Reformed  Churches;  ease  the  consciences  of  many 
godly  persons  among  ourselves;  and  give  a  public 
testimony  of  our  endeavours  after  an  uniformity  in 
divine  worship,  pursuant  to  what  we  have  promised." 

The  Independents  could  with  difficulty  be  recon- 
ciled even  to  as  much  form  as  this  new  Directory 
contained,  for  fear  of  infringing  on  the  liberty  of 
prayer;  but  they  acquiesced,  and  it  passed  the  As- 
sembly with  great  unanimity. 

In  the  change  now  made  in  the  forms  of  public 
worship,  the  following  things  before  in  use  were 
entirely  omitted,  viz:  the  public  reading  of  the  Apo- 
crypha in  the  churches — private  and  lay  baptism — 
godfathers  and  godmothers — the  sign  of  the  cross  in 
baptism — the  private  administration  of  the  commu- 
nion to  the  sick — the  altar  with  rails  was  exchanged 
for  the  communion  table — kneeling  at  theLord's  table 
was  disused,  but  not  forbidden — no  burial  service — 
the  ring  in  marriage  disused — all  peculiar  garments  for 
officiating  ministers,  and  all  saints'  days,  discarded. 

The  ordinance  of  Parliament  for  establishing  the 
Directory,  repeals  the  acts  of  Edward  VI.  and  Eliza- 
beth, by  which  the  Liturgy  had  been  established; 
and  forbids  the  use  of  it  in  any  church,  chapel,  or 
other  place  of  public  worship;  appointing  the  use  of 


WESTMINSTER    ASSE3IBLT.  97 

the  Directory  in  its  place.  And  thus  the  law  con- 
tinued, untilthe  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  when  the 
Liturgy  was  again  restored. 

The  Directory,  however,  was  not  immediately  ob- 
served throughout  the  knigdom.  Changes  in  the 
accustomed  forms  of  public  worship  are  always  made 
with  difficulty.  Habit,  with  most  people,  is  stronger 
than  reason,  or  even  law.  Copies  of  the  Directory 
could  not  at  once  be  obtained,  which  was  the  reason- 
able apolos^y  of  some;  but  others  despised  it,  and 
continued  the  use  of  the  Common  Prayer,  in  defiance 
of  the  ordinance  of  Parliament,  while  others  refused 
to  be  restricted  by  any  form,  or  insisted  upon  making 
use  of  their  own  forms.  The  Parliament,  to  give  en- 
couragement and  currency  to  the  use  of  the  Directo- 
ry, called  in  all  copies  of  the  Common  Prayer,  and  im- 
posed a  fine  upon  all  who  used  it.  By  this  ordinance, 
the  Directory  was  ordered  to  be  publicly  read  in  every 
church  in  England  and  Wales,  the  first  Sunday  after 
it  was  received.  The  fine  for  using  the  Common 
Prayer  was  five  pounds  for  the  first  offence;  ten  for 
the  second;  and  for  the  third,  a  year's  imprisonment. 
And  for  neglecting  to  read  the  Directory,  as  pre- 
scribed, every  minister  incurred  a  penalty  of  forty 
shillings;  and  any  one  who  should  write  against  it, 
or  otherwise  endeavour  to  bring  it  into  contempt, 
should  forfeit  a  sum  not  less  than  five,  nor  more  than 
fifty  pounds,  to  be  given  to  the  poor. 

Tliis  attempt,  by  fines,  and  forfeitures,  and  impri- 
sonment, to  produce  presbyterial  uniformity  in  wor- 
ship, is  no  more  to  be  approved  than  those  acts  of 
Parliament  by  which  Episcopal  uniformity  v/as  estab- 
lished and  enforced.  Even  wise  and  good  men  were 
long  in  learning  that  religious  uniformity  never  can 
be  effectually  produced  by  compulsion;  and  if  it  could, 
it  would  be  no  more  than  a  hypocritical  compliance 
with  rites  and  institutions,  which  the  worshippers  in 
their  conscience  disapproved. 

The  king,  although  his  affairs  were  now  in  a  serious 
condition,  issued,  on  the  13th  of  November,  1645,  a 
proclamation  from  Oxford,  forbidding  the  use  of  the 

7 


98  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

new  Directory,  and  enjoining  the  use  of  the  Common 
Prayer.  In  this  public  paper,  his  majesty  not  only 
exercises  his  royal  authority,  but  condescends  to  rea- 
son the  case,  offering  objections  to  the  Directory,  and 
arguments  in  favour  of  the  Liturgy. 


CHAPTER  XTI. 

Psalmody,  or  singing  the  praises  of  God. 

Mr.  Francis  Rouse,  a  highly  esteemed  member  of 
Parliament,  and  one  of  the  lay-members  appointed  to 
sit  in  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  having  composed  a 
metrical  version  of  the  book  of  Psalms,  and  this  ver- 
sion having  been  communicated  by  the  author  to  Par- 
liament, was  by  their  order  sent  down  to  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  to  be  examined;  and  to  judge  whether 
it  might  be  permitted  to  be  used  in  the  public  worship 
of  God  in  the  churches.  The  whole  matter  was  re- 
ferred to  a  select  committee,  who  after  revising  the 
work,  and  striking  out  such  things  as  they  disliked, 
reported  in  favour  of  the  version,  for  the  purpose  in 
view.  The  principle  was  then  adopted  and  acted 
upon,  that  in  using  the  book  of  Psalms,  in  the  praises 
of  God,  we  should  not  only  keep  to  the  sense  but  to 
the  ivords  of  the  sacred  text.  After  being  two  years 
under  consideration,  and  much  pains  taken  in  its  cor- 
rection, it  was  adopted  by  the  Assembly.  From 
"  Baillie's  Letters,"  we  learn,  that,  during  this  period, 
the  version  had  been  sent  down  to  Scotland,  by  the 
Scottish  Commissioners,  and  that  it  had  there  under- 
gone a  revision,  and  that  the  alterations  suggested 
there,  had  been  generally  adopted.  Baillie  was  much 
in  favour  of  the  new  version  composed  by  Mr.  Rouse, 
and  strongly  recommended  it  to  his  countrymen,  until 
in  the  contest  of  parties  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
his  friend  Rouse  seems  to  have  taken  part  with  those 
who  were  in  favour  of  a  free  toleration  of  all  religions. 
This  seems  to  have  staggered  the  amiable  but  rigid 


WESTIVIINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  99 

Baillie  not  a  little;  and  he  on  this  occasion  mentions 
another  version,  which  he  earnestly  wishes  that  he 
had  with  him  in  London,  as  he  thought  it  the  best  he 
had  seen.  It  received  the  approbation  of  the  West- 
minster Assembly,  on  the  14th  day  of  November,  1645. 
It  was  then  returned  to  the  Parliament,  with  the  As- 
sembly's recommendation,  and  v^^as  by  thern  approved, 
and  authorized  to  be  used  in  all  the  churches.  The 
form  of  recommendation,  as  given  by  Neal,  is  in  the 
following  words,  "Whereas  the  honourable  House  of 
Commons,  by  an  order,  bearing  date,  Nov.  20,  1643, 
did  recommend  the  Psalms,  published  by  Mr.  Rouse, 
to  the  consideration  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines;  the 
Assembly  has  caused  them  to  be  carefully  perused, 
and  as  they  are  now  altered  and  amended,  do  now 
approve  them,  and  humbly  conceive  they  may  be 
profitable  to  the  church,  if  they  may  be  permitted  to 
be  publicly  sung."  Accordingly,  they  were  author- 
ized to  be  used  in  the  worship  of  God  by  both  Houses 
of  Parliament,  as  was  before  mentioned. 

This  version,  however,  although  composed  by  an 
Englishman,  and  authorized  to  be  used  by  all  the 
churches  in  that  kmgdom,  yet  never  went  into  gene- 
ral use,  in  that  country;  but  having  been  transmitted 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  church  of  Scotland, 
was  taken  up  for  consideration  in  1646;  and  the 
General  Assembly,  at  their  annual  meeting,  in  1647, 
appointed  a  committee  to  revise  said  version.  The 
work  of  revisal  was  divided  among  the  members  of 
this  committee.  The  first  forty  were  committed  to 
Mr.  John  Adamson,  the  second  forty  to  Mr.  Thomas 
Crawford,  the  third  forty  to  Mr.  John  Raw,  and  the 
remaining  thirty  to  Mr.  John  Nevey.  These  persons 
were  directed  to  compare  this  version  with  that  which 
had  been  in  use  in  the  Scottish  church,  and  make 
such  alterations  as,  in  their  judgment,  would  render 
the  version  more  perfect.  Copies  were  also  sent 
down  to  the  presbyteries,  not  only  for  their  approba- 
bation,  but  for  their  suggestions  and  remarks,  which 
they  were  directed  to  transmit  as  soon  as  possible  to 
the  Commission  of  the  Assembly;  and  the  Commis- 


100  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

sion,  after  revising  these  remarks,  were  directed  to 
forward  them  to  the  provincial  synods;  and  when  in 
these  bodies  they  had  passed  another  revisa],  they 
were  to  be  transmitted  to  the  presbyteries  again,  that 
by  further  consideration  the  whole  matter  might  be 
prepared  for  the  General  Assembly  at  its  next  meet- 
ing. And  as  in  the  version,  as  received  from  England, 
there  were  some  Psalms  in  a  metre  not  suited  to  the 
tunes  used  in  Scotland,  it  was  also  ordered,  that  these 
should  be  turned  into  common  metre;  leaving  the 
original  unaltered.  (See  Acts  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly for  this  period.)  The  Assembly  having  consid- 
ered all  the  alterations  and  amendments  proposed  by 
the  committee,  and  the  inferior  judicatories,  adopted 
the  following  act,  August  10,  164S. 

"The  General  Assembly  having  taken  some  view 
of  the  new  paraphrase  of  the  Psalms,  in  metre,  with 
the  corrections  and  animadversions  thereupon,  sent 
from  several  persons  and  presbyteries,  and  finding 
that  they  cannot  take  the  review  and  examination  of 
the  whole,  this  Assembly  do  appoint  Messrs.  James 
Hamilton,  John  Smith,  Hugh  Makail,  Robert  Trail, 
George  Hutchison,  and  Robert  Laurie,  after  the  dis- 
solving of  this  Assembly,  to  go  on  in  that  work  care- 
fully, and  to  report  their  travails  (labours)  to  the 
Commission  of  the  General  Assembly  for  public  af- 
fairs, at  their  meeting  in  November;  and  the  said 
committee,  after  perusal  and  examination  thereof,  is 
hereby  authorized,  with  full  power,  to  conclude  and 
establish  the  paraphrase,  and  to  publish  and  emit  the 
same  for  public  use.     (Acts,  Sept.   till  Aug.   1649.) 

"The  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly  have, 
with  great  diligence,  considered  the  paraphrase  of  the 
Psalms  in  metre,  sent  from  the  Assembly  of  Divines 
in  England,  by  our  Commissioners,  while  they  were 
there,  as  it  is  corrected  by  former  General  Assemblies' 
committees  from  them;  and  now, at  last,  by  the  breth- 
ren deputed  by  the  late  Assembly  for  that  purpose; 
and  having  exactly  examined  the  same,  do  approve 
the  said  paraphrase,  as  it  is  now  compiled  (com- 
pleted?).     And,  therefore,  according  to  the  power 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


101 


given  to  them  by  the  said  Assembly,  do  appoint  it 
to  be  printed  and  published  for  public  use,  hereby 
authorizing  the  same  to  be  the  only  paraphrase  of 
the  Psalms  of  David  to  be  sung  in  the  kirk  of  Scot- 
land; and  discharging  the  old  paraphrase,  and  any 
other  than  this  new  paraphrase,  to  be  made  use  of  in 
any  congregation  or  family,  after  the  first  day  of 
May,  1650.  And  for  uniformity  in  this  part  of  the 
worship  of  God,  do  seriously  recommend  to  presbyte- 
ries to  cause  make  publication  of  this  act,  and  take 
special  care  that  the  same  be  put  timeously  in  execu- 
tion, and  duly  observed." 

This  version,  thus  corrected  and  approved  by  the 
General  Assembly,  shortly  after  received  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  Parliament  of  Scotland,  in  the  following  act. 

"Jan.  8.  1650. 
"The  Committee  of  Estates  having  considered 
the  English  paraphrase  of  the  Psalms  of  David  in 
metre,  presented  to  them  this  day  by  the  Commission 
of  the  General  Assembly,  together  with  their  act,  and 
the  act  of  the  late  Assembly,  approving  the  said  para- 
phrase, and  appointing  the  same  to  be  sung  through- 
out the  kirk,  doth  approve  the  said  paraphrase,  and 
interpose  their  authority  for  the  publishing  and  prac- 
tising thereof;  hereby  ordaining  the  same  and  no 
other,  to  be  made  use  of  throughout  this  kingdom, 
according  to  the  said  act  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  their  Commissioners." 

This  version  of  the  book  of  Psahns,  originally  com- 
posed by  Francis  Rouse,  Esq.,  is  to  this  day  used  ex- 
clusively in  the  churches  of  Scotland,  belonging  to  the 
establishment,  in  all  the  Secession  churches;  in  the 
Presbyterian  churches  of  every  denomination  in  Ire- 
land, and  in  all  Scottish  Presbyterian  churches  in 
the  United  States,  not  in  connection  with  the  General 
Assembly.  From  most  of  the  churches,  in  the  last 
mentioned  body,  now  divided  into  two  parts,  this 
version  has  been  excluded,  gradually,  not  by  any  act 
of  the  General  Assembly— for  it  is  still  authorized, 
and  still  used  in  a  few  congregations  in  this  connec- 
tion—but by  the  unbiassed  judgment  and  free  choice 


102 


WEST3IINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


of  the  people,  who  preferring  to  offer  their  praises  in 
psahns,  hymns,  and  spiritual  songs,  which  recognise 
the  advent  of  the  Saviour  as  having  actually  taken 
place,  and  which  celebrate  the  work  of  redemption  as 
being  fully  accomplished,  have  adopted  such  versions 
or  imitation  of  the  psalms,  together  with  such  evan- 
gelical hymns  as  have,  from  time  to  time,  been  author- 
ized by  the  General  Assembly.^ 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Debates  in  the  Assembly. 

It  is  a  matter  much  to  be  regretted,  that  we  have  no 
full  report  of  the  discussions  which  took  place  in  this 
learned,  and  venerable  Assembly,  on  the  various 
topics  w^hich  came  before  them.  Dr.  Lightfoot  kept 
a  journal  of  what  passed,  every  day,  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Assembly,  July  1, 1643,  till  Decem- 
ber 31,  1644,  which  has  been  published,  at  the  close 
of  his  works;  but  during  this  period,  the  debates  related 
almost  entirely  to  matters  of  ecclesiastical  polity,  and 
forms  of  worship;  and  he  does  not  attempt  an  analysis 
of  the  speeches  of  the  members;  but  often,  in  one  or 
two  sentences,  indicates  the  nature  of  the  opinion 
maintained,  and  gives  a  concise  view  of  the  argu- 
ments used  in  its  support. 

Mr.  Baillie,  one  of  the  Scottish  commissioners,  in 
his  "Letters,"  mentions  some  particulars  which  are 
satisfactory,  as  far  as  they  go,  but  do  not  furnish  us 
with  any  thing  like  a  complete  view  of  the  interesting 
and  protracted  debates  which  were  carried  on  in  this 

1  The  compiler  acknowledges  himself  indebted  to  some  numbers  of 
the  Evangelical  Magazine  of  Canada,  for  useful  information  respect- 
ing the  proceedings  of  the  kirk  of  Scotland  on  Rouse's  version  of  the 
Psalms. 

This  proceeding  of  the  Scottish  church  has,  it  is  acknowledged,  no 
immediate  connection  with  the  History  of  the  Westminster  Assembly, 
but  the  information  will  be  acceptable  to  many  of  our  readers. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  103 

body  for  several  years  in  succession,  by  a  number  of 
the  most  learned  and  pious  ministers,  who  ever  ap- 
peared *in  any  ecclesiastical  Assembly  since  the  days 
of  the  Apostles.  These  able  discussions,  as  they  were 
not  taken  down  at  the  time,  of  course  can  never  be 
rocovered;  for  even  if  the  minutes  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  Assembly  should,  some  day,  be  discovered, 
they  would  furnish  nothing  more  than  a  dry  detail  of 
motions  and  decisions  made,  without  the  arguments 
and  speeches,  by  which  the  divines  taking  part  in  the 
debate,  supported  their  respective  opinions. 

"  At  our  first  coming,"  says  Baillie,  *'  we  found 
them  in  a  very  sharp  debate  anent  the  office  of  Doc- 
tors. The  Independent  men,  of  whom  there  are  some 
ten  or  eleven  in  the  synod,  many  of  them  are  very 
able  men,  as  Thomas  Goodwin,  Nye,  Burroughs, 
Bridges,  Carter,  Caryl,  Phillips,  and  Sterry,  were  for 
the  divine  institution  of  a  doctor,  in  every  congrega- 
tion, as  well  as  a  pastor.  To  these,  the  others  were 
extremely  opposed,  and  somewhat  bitterly,  pressing 
much  the  simple  identity  of  pastors  and  doctors.  Mr. 
Henderson  travelled  between  them,  and  drew  on  a 
committee,  for  accommodation.  In  the  whilk,  we 
agreed  unanimously  upon  some  six  propositions, 
wherein  the  absolute  necessity  of  a  doctor  in  every 
congregation,  and  his  divine  institution  in  formal 
terms,  was  eschewed;  yet,  where  two  ministers  can 
be  had  in  one  congregation,  the  one  is  allowed, 
according  to  his  gift,  to  apply  himself  most  to  teach- 
ing, and  the  other  to  exhortation,  according  to  the 
Scriptures. 

"  The  next  point  wherein  we  yet  stick,  is  ruling 
elders.  Many  a  brave  dispute  have  we  had  upon 
them  these  ten  days.  I  profess  my  marvelling  at  the 
great  learning,  quickness,  and  eloquence,  together 
with  the  great  courtesy  and  discretion  in  speaking,  of 
these  men.  Sundry  of  the  ablest  were  flat  against 
the  institution  of  any  such  officer,  by  divine  right,  as 
Dr.  Smith,  Dr.  Temple,  Mr.  Gataker,  Mr.  Vines,  Mr. 
Price,  Mr.  Hall,  and  many  more,  beside  the  Indepen- 


104  WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 

dents,^  who  truly  speak  much  and  very  well.  The 
most  of  the  synod  were  in  our  opinion,  and  reasoned 
bravely  for  it,  such  as  Mr.  Seaman,  Mr.  Walker,  Mr. 
Marshall,  Mr.  Newcoman,  Mr.  Young,  Mr.  Calamy. 
Sundry  times,  Mr.  Henderson,  Mr.  Rutherford,  and 
Mr.  Gillespie;  all  three  spake  exceeding  well.  When 
all  were  tired,  it  came  to  the  question.  There  was 
no  doubt  but  we  would  have  carried  it,  by  far  most 
voices;  yet,  because  the  opposites  were  men  very 
considerable,  above  all,  gracious  and  learned  little 
Palmer,  we  agreed  upon  a  committee  to  satisfy,  if  it 
were  possible,  the  dissenters.  For  this  end  we  met 
to-day,  I  and  hope,  ere  all  is  done,  we  shall  agree.  All 
of  them  were  willing  to  admit  elders,  in  a  prudential 
way;  but  this  to  us  seemed  most  dangerous  and  un- 
happy, and  therefore  was  peremptorily  rejected.  We 
trust  to  carry  at  last,  with  the  contentment  of  sundry 
once  opposite,  and  silence  of  all,  their  divine  and 
Scriptural  institution.  This  is  a  point  of  high  conse- 
quence, and  upon  no  other  do  we  expect  so  great 
difficulty,  except  alone  on  Independency;  wherewith 
we  purpose  not  to  meddle  in  haste,  till  it  please  God 
to  advance  our  army,  which  we  expect  will  much 
assist  our  arguments.  However,  we  are  not  despe- 
rate of  some  accommodation,  for  Goodwin,  Burroughs, 
and  Bridges,  are  men  full,  as  it  seems  yet,  of  grace  and 
modesty.  If  they  shall  prove  otherwise,  the  body  of 
the  Assembly  and  Parliament,  city  and  country,  will 
disclaim  them.^'^ 

The  following  is  from*  the  pen  of  the  same  modest, 
but  learned  and  judicious  Scotchman. 

"  After  that,  with  great  and  long  debates,  we  had 
gotten  well  near  unanimously  concluded  all  we  de- 
sired about  pastors,  doctors,  elders,  and  deacons,  we 
spent  two  or  three  sessions  upon  widows;  not  that 

1  The  Independents  in  the  Assembly  admitted  the  office  of  ruling 
elder  to  be  Scriptural.  Baillie  means  that  there  were  others  whodis- 
sented  from  these  opinions,  besides  Independents. 

*  This  excellent  Scotchman  had  no  objections  to  enforce  good  argu- 
ments by  other  considerations  than  such  as  were  logical. 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  105 

we  needed  to  stay  so  long  on  that  subject,  but  partly 
because  every  thing  that  comes  to  the  Assembly  must 
be  debated,  and  none  of  their  debates  are  short;  and 
partly,  because  the  committee  had  prepared  no  other 
matter  to  count  of,  for  the  Assembly  to  treat  on. 
Sundry  things  were  in  hands,  but  nothing  in  readi- 
ness to  come  to  the  public.  For  this  reason,  among 
others,  many  were  the  more  willing  to  have  the  As- 
sembly adjourned  for  the  holy-days  of  Zuil,  (Christ- 
mas) much  against  our  minds.  On  the  Friday  I 
moved  Mr.  Henderson  to  go  to  the  Assembly;  for 
else  he  purposed  to  have  staid  at  home  that  day;  that, 
as  all  of  us  had  stoutly  preached  against  their  Christ- 
mas, so  in  private,  we  might  solicit  our  acquaintance 
of  the  Assembly,  and  speak  something  of  it  in  public; 
that  for  the  discouraging  of  that  superstition  it  were 
good  the  Assembly  should  not  adjourn,  but  sit  on 
Monday,  their  Christmas  day.  We  found  sundry 
willing  to  follow  our  advice,  but  the  most  resolved  to 
preach  that  day  till  the  Parliament  should  reform  it 
in  an  orderly  way.  To  our  small  contentment  the 
Assembly  was  adjourned  from  Friday  till  Thursday 
next;  yet  we  prevailed  with  our  friends  in  the  lower 
House,  to  carry  it  so  in  Parliament,  that  both  Houses 
did  profane  that  holy-day  by  setting  on  it,  to  our  joy 
and  some  of  the  Assembly's  shame.  On  Wednesday 
we  kept  the  solemn  fast.  Mr.  Henderson  did  preach 
to  the  House  of  Commons  a  most  gracious,  wise,  and 
learned  sermon,  which  you  will  see  in  print." 

On  the  subject  of  ordination,  there  were  long  and 
learned  debates.  In  all  questions  which  related  to 
church  government  young  Gillespie  took  a  very  ac- 
tive part,  and  acquitted  himself  well;  even  when  op- 
posed by  the  greatest  rabbinical  scholars.  Baillie 
speaks  of  his  successful  efforts  in  debate  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms:  "We  get  good  help  in  our  Assembly- 
debates  of  our  good  friend  Warr'iston ;  but  of  none 
more  than  of  that  noble  youth  Mr.  Gillespie.  I  truly 
admire  his  faculty,  and  bless  God,  as  for  all  my  col- 
leagues, so  for  him  in  that  faculty,  with  the  first  of 
the  whole  Assembly.''— Again,  "Mr.  G.  Gillespie, 


103 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


however,  I  had  a  good  opinion  of  his  gifts,  yet  I  pro- 
fess he  has  much  deceived  me.  Of  a  truth,  there  is 
no  man  whose  parts  in  a  pubUc  dispute  I  do  so  ad- 
mire. He  has  studied  so  accurately  all  the  points 
ever  yet  come  to  our  Assembly;  he  has  gotten  so 
ready,  so  assured,  so  solid  a  way  of  public  debating, 
that  however  there  be  in  the  Assembly  divers  very 
excellent  men,  yet,  in  my  poor  judgment,  there  is  not 
one  who  speaks  more  rationally  or  more  to  the  point 
than  that  brave  youth  has  done  ever;  so  that  his  ab- 
sence would  be  prejudicial  to  our  whole  cause,  and 
unpleasant  to  all  here  that  wishes  it  well."  This 
was  in  answer  to  a  letter  which  proposed  that  Mr. 
Gillespie  should  return  to  Scotland. 

The  debate  on  ordination  occupied  twenty  sessions, 
as  appears  from  the  following  extract  from  '^  Baillie's 
Letters."  "  Our  Assembly  has  at  last  perfected  or- 
dination, both  in  the  doctrinal  and  directory  parts. 
I  think,  to-morrow,  they  shall  present  it  to  the  House. 
It  has  cost  us  much  labour,  and  above  twenty  long 
sessions.  I  hope  it  shall  do  good,  and  over  all  this 
land  shall  erect  presently  an  association  of  ministers 
to  ordain.     Our  Presbytery  shall  shortly  follow." 

The  main  contest  in  the  Assembly  was  with  the 
Independents,  about  the  power  of  presbyteries  and 
synods.  On  this  point  they  remained  immovable, 
and  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost,  in  opposition 
to  Presbyterial  church  government.  In  a  letter,  dated 
May  9,  1644,  Baillie  writes,  "For  our  Assembly 
matters  we  are  daily  perplexed.  Not  only  do  we 
make  no  progress,  and  all  far  from  the  sight  of  any 
appearance  of  an  end,  but  also  matters  are  often  in 
hazard  of  miscarriage.  The  Independents,  so  far  as 
we  can  yet  learn,  are  peremptory  for  schism;  and 
their  party  is  very  strong  and  growing,  especially  in 
the  army.  The  leading  men  in  the  Assembly  are  at 
this  time  much  divided  about  the  questions  in  hand, 
of  the  power  of  congregations  and  synods.  Some  of 
them  would  give  nothing  to  congregations,  denying 
peremptorily  all  example,  precept  or  reason  for  a  con- 
gregational eldership.     Others,  and  many  more,  are 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  107 

wilful  to  give  to  congregational  eldership  all  and  en- 
tire power  of  ordination,  excommunication  and  all. 
Had  not  God  sent  Mr.  Henderson,  Mr.  Rutherford, 
and  Mr.  Gillespie  among  them,  I  see  not  that  ever 
they  could  agree  on  any  settled  government. 

"  We  expect  the  favour  of  God  to  help  us  over  the 
rocks,  through  the  storms,  in  the  midst  whereof  we  sail, 
at  this  hour.  The  answer  and  return  of  your  prayers 
we  oft  feel  and  acknowledge.  All  our  company, 
blessed  be  God,  have  had  perfect  health,  good  cou- 
rage, and  hearty  unanimity  in  all  things;  great  credit 
and  reputation;  sensible  assistance  in  every  thing; 
and  very  good  success  to  all  our  motions,  either  for 
church  or  state;  so  that  we  are  hopeful  to  wrestle 
through  the  present  difficulties,  as  we  have  done 
through  many  before,  by  the  help  of  the  prayers  of 
God's  people  among  you.  The  humour  of  this  peo- 
ple is  very  various,  and  inclinable  to  singularhies,  to 
differ  from  all  the  world,  and  one  from  another,  and 
shortly  from  themselves.  No  people  had  so  much 
need  of  a  presbytery.''  (Letter  to  Mr.  Robert  Ram- 
say.) 

In  a  letter  under  date  of  June  7, 1 644,  to  Mr.  Spang, 
he  says,  "  Our  progress  in  the  Assembly,  albeit  slow, 
yet  blessed  be  God,  is  sensible,  daily.  We  have 
passed,  but  after  a  world  of  debate,  all  the  Direc- 
tory, which  concerns  ordinary  prayers,  reading  of 
the  word,  singing  of  psalms,  and  preaching.  Our 
toil  is  exceeding  great,  every  day,  from  eight  in  the 
morning  till  near  one;  and  oft  in  the  afternoon,  from 
three  to  half  past  six,  we  are  in  exercise.  Only  the 
Sunday  free,  and  that  for  our  Sunday's  preaching. 
All  of  us  long  very  much  to  be  at  home ;  but  we  are  all 
commanded  to  stay  and  attend  this  great  service.  The 
Independents,  our  great  retarders,  it  is  like,  shall  not 
vaunt  themselves,  in  the  end,  of  their  opposition. 
The  most  of  their  party  are  fallen  off  to  Anabaptism. 
Antinomianism,  and  Socinianism;  the  rest  are  divided 
among  themselves. 

The  debate  respecting  the  organization  of  presbyte- 
ries and  synods,  was  brought  to  a  favourable  conclu- 


h 


108 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


sioii  in  the  month  of  October,  1644,  as  appears  by  a 
*^  PubUc  Letter,'^  sent  to  Scotland  from  their  com- 
missioners. "  In  the  Assembly,  thanks  be  to  God,  we 
have  throughed,  not  only  our  presbyteries,  but  our 
synods,  provincial  and  national,  and  the  subordina- 
tion of  all  the  four  meetings,  parochial,  classical,  pro- 
vincial, and  national.  We  are  now  to  dispute  on  the 
power  of  all  four.  We  have  strange  tugging  with 
the  Independents." 

The  proposition  which  involved  the  point  in  dis- 
pute between  the  Presbyterians  and  Independents, 
was  presented  to  the  Assembly  by  one  of  its  com- 
mittees, in  the  following  words :  "That  divers  churches 
may  be  under  one  Presbyterial  government."  To 
this  Dr.  Goodwin  made  the  following  objections:  "If 
many  elders,  put  together,  make  one  presbytery,  clas- 
sical, then  every  one  of  those  elders  is  to  be  reputed 
as  an  elder  to  every  one  of  those  churches.  But  the 
word  of  God  doth  not  warrant  any  such  thing."  In 
support  of  his  argument,  he  alleged, 

1.  "The  deacons  are  not  to  be  officers  of  divers 
churches;  ergo  not  the  pastor. 

2.  ^'  The  pastor  is  not  to  preach  in  divers  churches; 
ergo  not  to  rule. 

3.  "The  several  congregations  are  not  to  give 
maintenance  to  the  pastor  of  another  church. 

4.  "  One  pastor  was  not  chosen,  ordained,  and  main- 
tained by  divers  churches;  ergo  not  to  have  power  in 
them. 

5.  "  Several  offices  are  not  to  meet  in  one  and  the 
same  person." 

This  argument  was  first  answered  by  Dr.  Hoyle; 
more  particularly  by  Mr.  Vines,  who  laid  down  this 
position, "  Quod  convenit  toti  qua  toti^  non  cojivenit 
cuilihet  parti.^^  The  heads  of  the  tribes  governed 
the  tribes.  Now  what  did  this  make,  the  head  of  the 
tribe  of  Reuben  to  be  the  tribe  of  Manasses?  And 
so  in  the  government  of  universities,  which  is  by  the 
heads  of  the  colleges.  And  therefore  to  argue  "a 
toto  ad  partem,^^  is  no  good  argument.  Mr.  Mar- 
shall next  took  up  the  subject.     He  argued  as  follows: 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  109 

"The  whole  Catholic  church  is  but  onebody;  part  of 
it  is  triumphant,  part  militant.  The  militant  is  an 
aggregation  of  all  the  members,  be  they  who  they  will; 
and  the  members  are  not  to  act  by  themselves,  as 
distinct  persons,  but  all  as  joint  members.  To  main- 
tain this  unity,  Christ  gave  apostles,  evangelists,  &c., 
which,  though  they  had  no  dependence  upon  one 
another,  acted  by  one  spirit.  They  all  laboured  to 
gather  members  into  this  body;  and  all  that  they  con- 
verted v/ere  baptized,  not  into  this  or  that  particular 
congregation,  but,  in  general,  into  this  body.  This 
body  is  cast  into  societies,  which  are  called  by  divines, 
^instituted  churches.'  Now,  for  the  nature  and 
constitution  of  them.  1.  When  these  wise  master- 
builders  had  converted  so  many  in  any  city  or  place, 
as  to  make  a  congregation,  they  appointed  them 
elders;  and  though  they  multiplied  never  so  much,  in 
that  city,  yet  there  was  but  one  church,  though  many 
congregations;  as  at  Jerusalem,  frcm  one  hundred 
and  twenty,  they  grew  to  eight  thousand,  before  they 
were  of  many  months  standing;  and  then  what  were 
they  when  increased  in  years?  And  yet  they  are 
called  but  one  church,  although  they  could  not  but 
have  many  meeting  places.  Now,  whether  they  fed 
these  fixedly,  or  in  circuit,  the  Scripture  is  silent. 
But  to  him  it  seemed  that  the  several  pastors  had 
their  several  charges:  and  he  concluded,  that  our 
churches  should  follow  this  pattern,  both  in  cities  and 
in  the  country."  Mr.  Marshall  then  proceeded  to 
answer  Mr.  Goodwin's  arguments,  at  great  length. 

Mr.  Gillespie  proposed,  that,  to  avoid  confusion, 
they  should  take  up  Mr.  Goodwin's  major  proposi- 
tion first,  and  said  that  he  concurred  in  the  validity 
of  Mr.  Viner's  answer;  and  gave  this  example: 
"  The  States  General  govern  the  Low  Countries,  yet 
every  commissioner  hath  not  relation  to  another 
country;"  and  added,  "that  the  power  of  government 
in  a  presbytery,  is  not  a  power  oi  order,  but  of  juris- 
diction; and  they  govern  not  as  presbyteri,  but  as 
presbyteriuni.^^ 

Mr.  Seaman    observed,   that    the    inconveniences 


110  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

mentioned  by  Mr.  Goodwin,  will  fall  upon  the  civil 
government,  as  well  as  upon  the  presbyterial;  and  he 
proved,  that  a  minister  may  stand  in  relation  to  more 
congregations  than  one,  and  the  deacon's  office  may 
reach  as  far  as  the  pastor's;  and  that  he  may  perform 
the  acts  of  his  office  in  other  congregations  than  his 
own;  and  then  retorted  the  argument.  If  the  deacon 
may  act  out  of  his  own  congregation,  so  also  may  the 
pastor.  And  he  proved  that  governing  is  feeding, diS 
well  diS  preaching,  and  maintained,  that  the  elders  of 
Jerusalem  did  teach  and  preach  to  all  churches  indif- 
ferently, and  exercise  their  office  as  occasion  required; 
for  proof  of  which  he  referred  to  Acts  xv.  and  xvi. 
He  also  showed  that  more  offices  than  one  may  meet 
in  one  and  the  same  person,  as  in  Christ  himself,  the 
Apostles,  &c.,  and  then  retorted  the  argument  of  the 
Independents  thus:  '^If  an  elder  may  have  relation 
to  more  congregations  than  one,  then  may  a  presby- 
tery; but  an  elder  may,  for  every  elder  hath  relation 
to  the  general  visible  church,  (1  Cor.  xii.  28;)  other- 
wise, ordination  should  be  repeated,  according  as 
elders  changed  their  places.  And  baptism  is  into  the 
general  church  visible.  2.  He  argued  that  he  that 
hath  divers  assistants,  for  number  and  kind,  may 
govern  more  congregations  than  one;  but  the  presby- 
tery hath  so,  ergo,  &c.  3.  Every  minister  may  do 
his  part,  in  a  particular  congregation,  and  yet  do  his 
part  in  the  presbytery;  as  an  alderman  may  do  all 
that  is  fit  in  his  ward,  and  yet  do  the  work  of  the 
court  of  aldermen.  4.  The  people  may  have  their 
full  interest  in  a  presbyterial  government,  in  the  call 
of  their  minister;  as  the  people  of  the  land  have  their 
full  interest  in  the  Parliament,  in  the  choice  of  its 
members." 

Mr.  Goodwin  reiterated  his  argument,  and  endea- 
voured to  show  that  presbyterial  government  was 
inconsistent  with  the  duties  of  the  pastor  to  his  own 
people,  and  of  his  people  to  him.  The  Scriptures 
never  speak  of  duties  to  be  performed  to  his  own 
flock  and  to  others;  it  tells  not  what  they  are  to 
do  in  their  own,  and  what  in  the  Presbyterial  as- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  HI 

semblies.  He  referred  to  Acts  xx.  25,  where  the 
Apostle  speaks  plainly  of  pastors.  Now,  if  one  pastor 
ill  this  city  be  fixed  to  one  congregation,  and  another 
to  another,  how  could  they  preach  to  all  the  Jlock7 
Here  he  was  admonished,  that  he  did  but  repeat  what 
he  had  said  the  day  before;  and  Mr.  Vines  called 
upon  him  to  answer  distinctly  to  his  refutation  of  his 
argument;  when  a  long  dispute  arose  between  these 
two. 

On  a  succeeding  day,  the  dispute  about  the  juris- 
diction of  a  presbytery  over  several  congregations, 
was  resumed;  when  Mr.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Burroughs, 
and  Mr.  Carter,  all  attempted  to  answer  the  argu- 
ments of  Mr.  Vines  and  Mr.  Marshall.  Mr.  Vines 
replied  to  them  all. 

Mr.  Gillespie  next  arose,  and  passed  this  censure 
on  all  the  arguments  employed  by  the  Independent 
brethren,  "  that  they  do  either  'pet ere  principium,^  or 
'  non  conchidere  negaliim.'  '^ 

Mr.  Seaman  remarked,  "that  as  every  particular 
Christian  hath  relation  to  the  whole  church  catholic, 
yet  is  he  not  to  do  every  office  of  the  whole  church: 
so  it  is  with  these  elders. 

Mr.  Herle  said,  ^'  \\\q  fundament  urn  of  the  relation 
spoken  of  is,  1.  The  assensus  of  all  the  congregations 
to  send  their  elders.  2.  The  mission.  3.  The  union 
in  the  presbytery;  which  is  the  ' formalis  ratio'  oi 
the  whole. ^' 

Mr.  Marshall  spoke  again,  at  great  length,  and  so 
did  divers  others. 

On  the  next  day  the  debate  was  renewed,  by  Mr. 
Burroughs,  Dr.  Hoyle,  Dr.  Young,  Mr.  Vines,  Mr. 
Palmer,  Mr.  Nye,  Mr.  Seaman,  and  Mr.  Rutherford. 

A  long  critical  discussion  took  place,  respecting  the 
order  given  to  the  Corinthian  church,  to  excommuni- 
cate the  incestuous  power.  1  Cor.  v.  4.  The  question 
was,  whether  the  power  of  excommunication  was  in 
the  body  of  the  people,  or  in  the  elders  or  rulers.  The 
debate  on  this  point  was  chiefly  between  Mr.  Good- 
win and  Mr.  Gillespie. 

Among  their  rules  of  proceeding,  they  had  no  one 


112  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

answering  to  ^^  the  previous  question  f^  but  while  this 
matter  was  under  discussion,  some  of  the  members 
were  strenuous  in  their  opposition  to  allowing  the 
Independents  to  go  on  indefinitely,  in  their  objec- 
tions; and  insisted,  that  the  matter  had  been  suffi- 
ciently discnssed.  Twice  it  was  put  to  the  vote, 
whether  these  brethren  should  be  peraiitted  to  go  on 
with  their  objections,  and  in  both  cases  the  majority 
was  in  favour  of  indulging  them. 

Another  report  from  the  committee,  called  the  first, 
was  now  brought  in  by  Mr.  Coleman,  relative  to  the 
same  principle,  of  several  churches  under  one  presby- 
tery. They  brought  forward  the  following  things  in 
favour  of  a  classical  presbytery.  1.  The  church  of 
Jerusalem.  2.  The  church  of  Corinth.  3.  OfEphe- 
sus.  4.  Of  Antioch.  The  instance  of  Jerusalem  hav- 
ing been  already  exhibited,  they  proceeded  to  prove 
that  the  church  of  Corinth  consisted  of  a  number  of 
congregations.  1.  From  the  time  of  Paul's  abode 
there.  Acts  xviii.  8 — 10.  2.  From  the  divers  meet- 
ing places,  as  Cenchrea,  the  house  of  Justus,  and  of 
Chloe,  Acts  xviii.  7,  1  Cor.  i.  11.  And  from  the  use 
of  the  word  churches  in  the  plural  number,  1  Cor.  xiv. 
34.  2.  From  the  multitude  of  pastors,  1  Cor.  i.  12, 
iv.  15,  iii.  12.  They  next  affirmed,  that  these  several 
churches  were  under  one  presbytery,  1  Cor.  v.  1, 
2  Cor.  ii.  In  like  manner,  they  undertook  to  prove 
that  there  were  several  congregations  in  the  church 
of  Ephesus,  from  Paul's  long  continuance  there.  Acts 
XX.  31.  And  from  his  great  success,  Acts  xix.  18 — 20. 
Also,  from  the  number  of  believers — from  the  value 
of  the  books  of  those  who  had  practised  curious  acts, 
and  from  the  reason  which  Paul  assigns  for  his  long 
continuance  there,  1  Cor.  xvi.  3,  9.  But  especially 
from  the  multitude  of  pastors.  Acts  xx.  17,  28.  And 
that  they  were  all  united  under  one  presbytery,  they 
proved  from  Rev.  ii.  1,  2,  where  the  epistle  is  directed 
to  the  angel  of  the  church  of  Ephesus. 

That  the  church  of  Antioch  had  many  congrega- 
tions, is  argued  from  the  multitude  of  believers,  Acts 
xi.  21,  24,  26.     And  from  the  multitude  of  pastors 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  113 

and  teachers.  Acts  xiii.  1,  xv.  35.  This  able  report 
was  concluded  with  this  argument:  when  there  were 
more  believers  than  could  meet  in  one  place,  and 
more  pastors  than  could  be  for  one  congregation,  then 
there  must  have  been  more  congregations  than  one; 
but  it  was  so  in  these  churches,  ergo,&LC.  And  it  was 
lawful  for  these  to  be  under  one  presbyterial  govern- 
ment; therefore,  more  congregations  than  one  may 
now  be  under  one  presbytery. 

The  debate  was  continued  for  several  weeks,  and 
at  last  was  decided  in  favour  of  presbytery,  by  a  large 
majority;  and  the  proposition  was  then  sent  to  Par- 
liament, when  it  was  confirmed  by  both  Houses. 

The  preceding  specimen  of  discussion  has  been  ex- 
tracted from  Dr.  Lightfoot's  Journal. 

In  general,  the  debates  were  deliberate  and  learn- 
ed; and  the  speakers  treated  each  other  with  great 
courtesy  and  deference;  but  sometimes  they  became 
not  only  warm,  but  hot,  according  to  Baillie;  and  in 
one  instance,  the  Assembly  was  thrown  into  hubbub 
and  confusion,  while  Dr.  Burgess  was  speaking. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Origin  of  the  difference  between  the  Parliament  and  the  Assembly  of 
Divines. 

When  the  Assembly  had  gone  through  the  several 
points  which  related  to  presbyterial  government,  they 
presented  their  plan  to  the  Parliament  for  their  sanc- 
tion. As  the  judgment  of  the  majority  of  the  Assem- 
bly was  in  favour  of  the  jus  divinnm  of  presbytery, 
and  wished  to  have  this  principle  established  by  the 
civil  government,  and  as  many  of  the  leading  men  in 
Parliament  were  inclined  to  Erastian  principles,  this 
subject  gave  rise  to  warm  discussion  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  as  it  had  done  in  the  Assembly.  Mr. 
Glynn  and  Mr.  Whitaker  spoke  largely  against  the 
jus  divinii?n  of  any  particular  form  of  church  govern- 

8 


114  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

ment;  and  when  the  question  was  put  to  vote,  the 
decision  was  against  the  proposition  of  the  Assembly; 
and  instead  of  determining  that  the  government  of 
the  church  was  of  divine  authority,  by  congregational, 
classical,  and  synodical  assemblies,  their  resolution 
was  "  That  it  is  lawful  and  agreeable  to  the  ivord 
of  God,  that  the  church  be  governed  by  congrega- 
tional, classical,  and  synodical  asse??2.blies.^' 

The  loss  of  this  important  question  in  Parliament, 
greatly  affected  the  minds  of  the  Scottish  Commis- 
sioners, and  the  Presbyterians  in  the  Assembly  and 
out  of  the  Assembly.  Efforts  were  made  to  stir  up 
the  people,  by  representing  that  the  church  was  in 
danger.  Under  this  impression,  the  Common  Council 
of  London  were  induced  to  petition  Parliament,  "  that 
the  Presbyterian  Discipline  might  be  established  as 
the  Discipline  of  Jesus  Christ."  The  House  of  Com- 
mons, however,  were  no  how  disposed  to  recede  from 
the  ground  which  they  had  taken;  and  in  their  answer 
said,  ^' That  the  citizens  must  have  been  misinformed 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  House."  And  when  the 
ministers  of  London  came  forward  with  a  petition  to 
the  same  effect,  they  were  told  by  the  speaker,  "  that 
they  need  not  wait  for  an  answer,  but  go  home  and 
look  to  the  charges  of  their  several  congregations." 
And  immediately  a  committee  was  appointed  to  in- 
quire into  the  origin  of  these  petitions. 

The  Presbyterian  ministers  having  met  with  such 
a  rebuff  from  the  House  of  Commons,  resolved  to 
apply  to  the  House  of  Lords,  who  received  them 
civilly,  and  promised  to  take  their  request  into  consid- 
eration. But  after  two  months,  receiving  no  answer, 
they  determined  to  renew  their  application,  and  to 
give  it  the  more  weight,  they  prevailed  with  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  court  of  aldermen  to  join  with  them  in 
presenting  an  address  for  a  speedy  settlement  of 
church  government,  according  to  the  covenant;  and 
that  no  toleration  might  be  given  to  popery,  prelacy, 
superstition,  heresy,  profaneness,  or  any  thing  con- 
trary to  sound  doctrine,  and  that  all  private  assem- 
blies might  be  restrained."     This  petition  was  pre- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  115 

sented  on  the  10th  day  of  January,  1645.  The  House 
of  Lords  thanked  them  for  their  zeal,  and  recom- 
mended to  the  city  magistrates  to  use  their  authority 
m  suppressing  all  unlawful  assemblies.  But  nothing 
was  done  to  satisfy  the  importunate  requests  of  the  pe- 
titioners. This,  however,  was  the  commencement  of 
a  jealousy  between  the  city  and  Parliament,  which 
afterwards  had  disastrous  consequences.  But  it  was 
not  merely  in  regard  to  the  jus  divinum  of  Presby- 
tery that  the  Assembly  and  Parliament  were  at  issue; 
but  also  respecting  the  power  of  the  keys,  which  the 
former  had  voted  to  be  in  the  eldership  in  the  follow- 
ing words,  "  The  keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven 
were  committed  to  the  officers  of  the  church,  by  vir- 
tue whereof,  they  have  power  respectively  to  retain 
and  remit  sins;  to  shut  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven 
against  the  impenitent,  both  by  the  word  and  by  cen- 
sures, and  to  open  it  to  the  penitent  bj- absolution; 
and  to  prevent  the  profanation  of  the  holy  sacrament 
by  notorious  and  obstinate  offenders:  the  said  officers 
are  to  proceed  by  admonition,  suspension  from  tlie 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  for  a  season,  and  by 
excommunication  from  the  church,  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  crime  and  demerit  of  the  person. ''  The 
Parliament  were  displeased  that  they  claimed  this 
power  jure  divino,  and  not  by  the  laws  of  the  land. 
The  Independents  claimed  the  same  power,  but  con- 
fined it  to  each  particular  church  or  congregation. 
But  the  Erastians  were  for  laying  the  communion 
open,  and  referring  all  crimes  to  the  civil  magistrate. 
The  Parliament,  however,  did  not  think  it  expedi- 
ent, altogether  to  reject  the  ordinance  relating  to 
church  censures  and  excommunication;  but  wishing 
to  neutralize  the  measure,  they  required  of  the  As- 
sembly to  specify  "  what  degree  of  knowledge  was 
necessary  to  qualify  persons  for  the  communion;  and 
for  what  crimes  they  deserved  suspension  or  excom- 
munication. Such  a  specification,  after  much  debate, 
was  made  out  and  sent  to  Parliament,  who  inserted 
it  in  their  ordinance;  accompanied,  however,  with 
certain  provisos  of  their  own. 


116  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

The  ordinance  sets  forth,  that  the  several  elder- 
ships, within  their  respective  limits,  shall  have  power 
to  suspend  from  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
all  ignorant  and  scandalous  persons  within  the  rules 
and  directions  hereafter  mentioned,  and  no  others. 
Then  follow  the  rules  relating  to  ignorance:  1.  All 
that  do  not  know  and  believe  the  being  of  a  God  and 
the  Holy  Trinity.  2.  They  that  are  not  acquainted 
with  original  sin  and  the  fall  of  man.  3.  They  that 
don't  believe  Christ  to  be  God  and  man,  and  our  only 
Mediator  and  Redeemer.  4.  And  that  Christ  and 
his  benefits  are  applied  only  by  faith,  which  faith  is 
the  gift  of  God,  and  implies  a  trusting  in  him  for  the 
remission  of  sins  and  life  everlasting.  5.  The  neces- 
sity of  sincere  repentance  and  a  holy  life  in  order  to 
salvation.  6.  The  nature  and  importance  of  the  two 
sacraments,  especially  the  Lord's  Supper.  7.  That 
the  souls  of  believers  do  immediately  live  with  Christ 
after  death;  and  the  souls  of  the  wicked  immediately 
go  to  hell.  8.  The  resurrection  of  the  body  and  final 
judgment." 

The  rules  for  suspension  in  case  of  scandal,  were 
the  following: 

"  The  eldership  shall  have  power  to  suspend  or  ex- 
communicate. L  All  blasphemers  against  God,  his 
word,  or  holy  sacraments.  2.  Incestuous  persons. 
3.  Adulterers.  4.  Fornicators.  5.  Drunkards.  6.  Pro- 
fane swearers  and  cursers.  7.  Murderers.  8.  Wor- 
shippers of  images,  crosses,  crucifixes,  or  relics.  9.  All 
that  make  images  of  the  Trinity,  or  of  any  Person 
thereof  10.  All  religious  worshippers  of  saints,  angels, 
or  any  mere  creature.  IL  Such  as  declare  themselves 
not  to  be  in  charity  with  their  neighbours.  12.  Such 
as  shall  challenge  others  to  a  duel,  or  that  shall  accept 
such  challenge.  13.  Such  as  knowingly  shall  carry 
any  challenge,  either  by  word,  message,  or  writing. 
14.  Such  as  profane  the  Lord's  day,  by  dancing,  play- 
ing at  cards  or  dice,  or  any  other  game;  or  that  shall 
on  the  Lord's  day  use  masking,  wakes,  shooting, 
bowling,  playing  at  foot-ball,  or  stool-ball,  wrestling; 
or  that  shall  resort  to  plays,  interludes,  fencing,  bull« 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  117 

baiting;  or  that  shall  use  hawking,  hunting,  coursing, 
fishing,  or  fowling;  or  that  shall  publicly  expose  any- 
ware  for  sale,  otherwise  than  is  provided  by  the  or- 
dinance of  April  6,  1644;  or  that  shall  travel  on  the 
Lord's  day  without  reasonable  cause.  15.  Such  as 
keep  known  stews,  or  brothel-houses;  or  that  shall 
solicit  the  chastity  of  any  person  for  himself  or  an- 
other. 16.  Such  parents  as  give  consent  to  marry 
their  children  to  papists;  and  such  as  do  themselves 
marry  a  papist.  17.  Such  as  consult  for  advice, 
witches,  wizards,  or  fortune-tellers.  18.  Such  as  as- 
sault their  parents,  or  any  magistrate,  minister,  or 
elder,  in  the  execution  of  his  office.  19.  Such  as 
shall  be  legally  attainted  of  barratry,  forgery,  extor- 
tion, or  bribery." 

"  And  the  several  elderships  shall  have  power  to 
suspend  all  ministers  who  shall  be  duly  convicted  of 
any  of  the  crimes  above  mentioned,  from  giving  or 
receiving  the  Lord's  supper.  Persons  suspended  by 
one  congregation  shall  not  be  admitted  to  the  sacra- 
ment by  another,  without  a  certificate  from  the  one 
in  which  he  was  a  member.  But  in  all  cases  of  sus- 
pension, if  the  party  suspended  shall  manifest  his  re- 
pentance before  the  eldership  by  which  he  was  sus- 
pended, he  shall  be  re-admitted  to  the  Lord's  supper, 
and  the  suspension  taken  ofi"." 

Then  followed  the  provisos,  which  completely 
placed  the  ecclesiastical  courts  under  the  power  of 
the  civil. 

''  Provided  always,  that  if  any  person  find  himself 
aggrieved  with  the  proceedings  of  the  presbytery  to 
which  he  belongs,  he  may  appeal  to  the  classical 
eldership;  from  them  to  the  provincial  Assembly; 
from  them  to  the  national;  and  from  them  to  the 
Parliament. 

The  other  provisos  went  to  limit  the  power  of  pres- 
byteries in  regard  to  several  particulars,  not  necessary 
to  be  here  mentioned,  as  the  main  point,  the  allow- 
ance of  an  appeal  to  Parliament,  from  the  highest 
ecclesiastical  judicatory  is  sufficient  to  show,  that  the 


118  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY, 

object  was  to  make  the  ecclesiastical  completely  sub- 
ordinate to  the  civil  power. 

This  proviso,  as  it  justly  might,  gave  great  offence 
to  the  Scotch  Commissioners,  and  to  the  whole  Pres- 
byterian party.  It  was  obviously  founded  on  Erastian 
principles,  and  deprived  the  chnrch  of  the  right  given 
to  her  by  divine  institution.  But  this  was  not  all. 
The  Parliament  enacted,  "That  an  appeal  shall  be 
from  every  classis  to  the  commissioners  of  Parliament, 
chosen  in  every  province,  and  from  them  to  the  Par- 
liament itself.'^  And  ^'  that  if  any  person  commit  any 
scandalous  crime,  the  minister  may  forbear  to  admin- 
ister the  sacrament  for  that  lime,  but  shall  within  eight 
days  certify  the  same  to  the  commission,  who  shall 
send  up  the  case  to  the  Parliament,  by  whose  deter- 
mination the  eldership  shall  abide. 

These  rules  to  limit  and  regulate  presbyteries,  were 
ordained  before  any  such  bodies  existed;  for  although 
the  Parliament  had  resolved,  in  August  1645,  that 
elders  should  be  chosen  throughout  England  and 
Wales,  yet  it  did  not  become  a  law  until  the  14th  of 
March  in  the  following  year.  It  was  then  ordained, 
"  That  forthwith  a  choice  of  elders  should  be  made 
throughout  England  and  Wales, — the  election  to  be 
made,  after  due  public  notice,  by  the  congregation  or 
a  majority  of  them  being  assembled,  being  heads  of 
families, and  such  as  have  taken  the  covenant." — The 
act  also  provided,  "that  in  every  presbytery  six  min- 
isters and  three  laymen  should  be  appointed  triers 
of  the  validity  of  elections,  of  whom  seven  to  be  a 
quorum.  No  man  to  be  an  elder  in  any  other  con- 
gregation but  the  one  in  which  he  resides.  The  quali- 
fications of  a  ruling  elder  are,  that  he  be  of  good  un- 
derstanding in  religion,  sound  in  the  faith,  prudent, 
discreet,  of  unblameable  conversation,  willing  to  un- 
dergo the  office,  and  in  the  communion  of  the  church." 

"All  places  and  parishes  to  be  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  congregational,  classical,  provincial,  and  na- 
tional assemblies;  except  chapels  within  the  king's 
houses." 

The  ordinance  then  goes  on  to  direct  how  the  coun- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  119 

try  should  be  laid  off  into  presbyteries,  of  which  an 
account  will  be  given  in  another  place. 

It  also  directed,  that  every  congregational  assembly 
should  send  one  minister,  and  two  elders  or  more,  not 
exceeding  four,  to  the  classical  assembly;  and  every 
classical  assembly  to  send  two  ministers,  and  at  least 
four  ruling  elders,  to  the  provincial  assembly.  And 
each  provincial  assembly  to  send  two  ministers  and 
four  ruling  elders,  who  shall  constitute  a  national 
assembly,  when  such  an  one  shall  be  summoned 
by  Parliament. 

Thus  the  Presbyterian  church  government  became 
the  national  establishment;  but  this  only  by  way  of 
probation;  for  in  the  preamble  it  was  declared, 
"  That  if,  upon  trial,  it  was  not  found  acceptable,  it 
should  be  repealed  or  amended." 

But  although  Parliament  aimed  at  accommodating 
all  parties,  none  were  pleased.  By  this  Presbyterial 
hierarchy,  dissenters  were  as  much  excluded  as  by 
the  Episcopal  hierarchy.  Of  course,  the  Episcopa- 
lians were  opposed  to  it;  and  the  Independents  also, 
because  both  were  by  it  excluded  from  the  national 
establishment;  and  the  Presbyterians,  by  whose  in- 
fluence it  was  carried  into  effect,  because  it  took  away 
the  power  over  their  ministers  and  members,  to  which 
they  believed  they  had  a  divine  right,  would  not  ac- 
cept of  it. 

When  the  scheme  was  laid  before  the  Scotch  Par- 
liament and  General  Assembly,  as  a  plan  for  uni- 
formity between  the  two  nations,  they  insisted  on  the 
following  amendments. 

"  1.  That  no  godly  minister  be  excluded  from  being 
a  member  of  classical,  provincial,  or  national  assem- 
blies. 

"  2.  That  the  ordinary  time  for  the  meeting  of  the 
National  Assembly  may  be  fixed,  with  a  reserve  of 
power  to  the  Parliament  to  convene  them  when  they 
please,  and  liberty  to  the  church  to  meet  oftener,  on 
necessary  occasions 

"  3.  That  the  Congregational  Assembly  have  power 
to  judge  in  cases  of  scandal,  not  expressed.     This 


120 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


they  conceive  cannot  be  considered  lodging  an  arbitra- 
ry power  in  the  church;  whereas,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  appointing  such  provincial  commissioners,  as  are 
settled  in  the  ordinance,  will  occasion  disputes,  create 
a  disconformity  between  this  and  other  churches, 
and  is  a  mixture  in  church  government,  altogeth- 
er without  precedent.  This  matter,  therefore,  they 
think,  can  better  be  managed  by  ministers  and  ruling 
elders. 

"4.  That  the  ordinance  for  the  ordination  of  minis- 
ters be  perpetual. 

"5.  The  manner  of  subjecting  Church  Assemblies 
to  the  control  and  decision  of  Parliament,  being  very 
liable  to  mistakes;  the  exemption,  likewise,  of  per- 
sons of  distinction  from  ecclesiastical  censures,  and 
the  administering  the  sacraments  to  some  persons, 
against  the  conscience  of  the  ministry  and  eldership. 
These,  and  some  other  particulars,  being  more  than 
they  can  admit,  they  desire  may  be  altered  to  general 
satisfaction. 

"6.  As  to  the  articles  relating  to  the  perpetual 
officers  of  the  church,  with  their  respective  functions; 
the  order  and  power  of  church  assemblies;  the  direc- 
tions for  public  repentance,  or  penance;  the  rules  for 
excommunication  and  absolution;  all  these,  they  de- 
sire to  be  fixed  and  settled,  pursuant  to  the  Covenant, 
and  with  the  joint  advice  of  the  divines  of  both  king- 
doms, long  since  offered  to  both  Houses/'  (i.  e.  by  the 
Westminster  Assembly.) 

After  the  delivery  of  these  papers  by  the  Scottish 
commissioners,  and  before  the  Houses  had  returned 
an  answer,  they  were  published  with  a  preface  by  a 
private  hand,  which  provoked  the  Parliament  to  such 
a  degree,  that  they  voted  it  to  be  burnt  by  the  hands 
of  the  common  hangman,  which  was  done  accord- 
ingly. 

The  answer  of  the  House  of  Commons  was  in  the 
following  terms:  "That  their  real  intentions  are,  to 
settle  religion  according  to  the  Covenant,  and  to  main- 
tain the  ancient  and  fundamental  government  of  this 
kingdom.     They   think   it   strange  that   any  sober, 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  121 

modest  men  should  imagine,  that  they  are  so  unwil- 
ling to  settle  any  government  in  the  church,  after  they 
have  declared  so  fully  for  the  Presbyterian;  have 
taken  so  much  pains  for  the  settling  it;  have  passed 
most  of  the  particulars  brought  to  them  by  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines,  without  any  material  alteration, 
save  in  the  point  of  commissioners;  and  have  pub- 
lished so  many  ordinances  for  putting  the  same  in 
execution;  only  because  they  cannot  consent  to  grant 
an  arbitrary  and  unlimited  power  -and  jurisdiction  to 
near  ten  thousand  judicatories,  to  be  erected  within 
this  kingdom,  and  this  demanded  in  such  a  way  as  is 
not  consistent  with  the  fundamental  laws  and  govern- 
ment of  the  same,  and  by  necessary  consequence,  ex- 
cluding the  Parliament  of  England  from  the  exercise 
of  all  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction.  This  has  been  the 
great  cause,  that  church  government  has  not  been 
long  since  established.  And  we  have  the  more  rea- 
son not  to  part  with  this  power,  out  of  the  hands  of 
the  civil  magistrate,  since  the  experience  of  all  ages 
will  manifest,  that  the  reformation  and  purity  of  re- 
ligion, and  the  protection  and  preservation  of  the 
people  of  God,  in  this  kingdom,  has  been  owing, 
vmder  God,  to  the  Parliament's  exercise  of  this  power. 
If  then,  the  minds  of  any  are  disturbed  for  want  of 
the  present  settling  of  church  government,  let  them 
apply  to  those,  who  having  sufficient  power  and  di- 
rection from  the  Houses  on  that  behalf,  have  not  as 
yet  put  the  same  in  execution." 

This  answer  of  the  Commons  was  far  from  being 
satisfactory;  and  the  English  Presbyterians  having 
resolved  to  stand  or  fall  with  their  Scotch  brethren, 
peremptorily  refused  to  comply  with  the  ordinance 
of  Parliament,  relying  upon  the  aid  and  support  of 
that  nation.  Mr.  Marshall  stood  up  in  the  Assembly, 
on  the  20th  day  of  March,  and  said,  "That  since  an 
ordinance  of  Parliament,  for  church  government,  was 
now  published,  and  speedily  to  be  put  in  execution; 
and  since  there  were  some  things  in  that  ordinance 
which  lay  very  heavy  on  his  conscience,  and  upon 
the  consciences  of  many  of  his  brethren — though  he 


122  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

blessed  God  for  the  zeal  of  the  two  Houses  in  settling 
the  government  of  the  church  thus  far — yet,  being 
much  pressed  in  spirit  with  some  things  contained 
therein,  he  moved  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to 
examine  what  things  in  the  ordinance  were  contrary 
to  their  consciences,  and  to  prepare  a  petition  to  pre- 
sent them  to  the  two  Houses.  A  petition  was  accor- 
dingly drawn  up  and  presented  on  the  23d  of  March, 
by  the  whole  Assembly,  with  Mr.  Marshall  at  their 
head.  In  this  petition  they  asserted  the  divine  right 
of  Presbyterian  government,  and  complain  of  a  clause 
in  the  late  ordinance,  which  establishes  ctJi  appeal 
from  the  censures  of  the  church  to  a  committee  of 
Parliament.  The  House  of  Commons,  alarmed  at 
this  petition,  appointed  a  committee  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  matter  and  manner  of  it,  who,  after 
some  time,  reported  it  as  their  opinion,  that  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines,  in  their  late  petition,  had  broken 
the  privileges  of  Parliament,  and  were  guilty  of  a 
prcemunire;  and  whereas,  they  insisted  so  peremp- 
torily on  the  JUS  divinum  of  Presbyterian  govern- 
ment, the  committee  had  drawn  up  certain  queries 
which  they  desired  the  Assembly  might  resolve  for 
their  satisfaction.  The  report  was  adopted,  and  the 
House  sent  three  of  their  members,  namely,  John 
Evelin,  Nathaniel  Fiennis,  and  Mr.  Brown,  to  the 
Assembly,  to  acquaint  them  with  their  resolutions. 
These  gentlemen,  in  several  speeches,  set  before  them 
the  rashness  and  imprudence  of  their  conduct,  and 
showed  them  wherein  they  had  exceeded  their  pro- 
vince, which  was  "  to  advise  the  Houses  in  such  points 
as  they  should  lay  before  them,  but  not  to  dictate  to 
those  to  whom  they  owed  their  being  as  an  Assem- 
bly." They  then  read  to  them  the  queries  which  the 
committee  had  prepared,  touching  the  point  oiihe  jus 
divinum  of  church  government,  and  to  which  they 
required  an  answer  from  the  Assembly.  These  were 
the  following: 

"  1.  Whether  the  congregational  and  presbyterial 
elderships,  appointed  by  ordinance  of  parliament,  or 
any  other  congregational  or  presbyterial  elderships 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


123 


are  jure  divino,  and  by  the  will  and  appointment  of 
Jesus  Christ?  and  whether  any  particular  church 
government  be  jure  divino?  and  what  that  govern- 
ment is? 

"  2.  Whether  all  the  members  of  the  said  elderships 
as  members  thereof,  or  which  of  them  c^rejure  di- 
vino, and  by  the  will  and  appointment  of  Jesus 
Christ? 

"3.  Whether  the  classical,  provincial  and  national 
assemblies,  or  any  of  them,  and  which  of  them  are 
jure  divino,  and  by  the  will  and  appointment  of 
Jesus  Christ? 

"4.  Whether  appeals  from  congregational  elder- 
ships, to  classical  provincial  and  national  assemblies, 
or  any  of  them,  and  to  which  of  them  Rrejure  divino, 
and  by  the  will  and  appointment  of  Jesus  Christ?  and 
whether  their  powers  upon  such  appeals  are  jure 
divino,  and  by  the  will  and  appointment  of  Jesus 
Christ? 

"  5.  Whether  oecumenical  assemblies  are  jure  di- 
vino? and  whether  there  be  appeals  from  any  of  the 
former  assemblies  to  the  said  cecumQmcdA  jure  divino, 
and  by  the  will  and  appointment  of  Jesus  Christ? 

"  6.'  Whether  by  the  word  of  God,  the  power  of 
judging  and  declaring  what  are  such  notorious  and 
scandalous  offences,  for  which  persons  guilty  thereof 
are  to  be  kept  from  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, and  of  convening  before  them,  trying,  and  actu- 
ally suspending  from  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  such  offenders,  is  either  in  the  congregational 
eldership,  presbytery,  or  in  any  other  eldership,  con- 
gregation, or  persons?  and  whether  such  powers  are 
in  them  only,  or  any  of  them,  and  in  which  of  them 
jure  divino,  and  by  the  will  and  appointment  of 
Jesus  Christ? 

"  7.  Whether  there  be  any  certain  and  particular 
rules  expressed  in  the  word  of  God,  to  direct  the 
elderships  or  presbyteries,  congregations  or  persons, 
or  any  of  them,  in  the  exercise  and  execution  of  the 
powers  aforesaid,  and  what  are  those  rules? 

"8.  Is  there  any  thing  contained  in  the  word  of 


124  WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 

God,  that  the  supreme  magistracy  in  a  Christian 
state  may  not  judge  and  determine  what  are  the 
aforesaid  notorious  and  scandalous  offences,  and  the 
manner  of  suspension  for  the  same;  and  in  what  par- 
ticulars concerning  the  premises  is  the  said  supreme 
magistracy  by  the  word  of  God  exchided? 

*'  9.  Whether  the  provision  of  commissioners  to 
judge  of  scandals  not  enumerated  as  they  are  au- 
thorized by  the  ordinance  of  Parliament,  be  contrary 
to  that  way  of  government  which  Christ  has  appoint- 
ed in  his  church?  and  wherein  are  they  so  contrary?" 

In  the  Assembly's  answer,  the  Parliament  required 
that  the  proofs  from  Scripture  should  be  set  down, 
with  the  several  texts  at  large,  in  the  express  words 
of  the  same;  and  that  every  minister  of  the  Assembly, 
who  should  be  present  at  the  debate  of  any  of  these 
questions,  should  subscribe  his  respective  name  in  the 
affirmative  or  negative,  according  as  he  gave  his  vole; 
and  that  those  who  dissented  from  the  majority  should 
set  down  their  positive  opinions,  with  the  express 
texts  of  Scripture  on  which  their  opinion  is  founded. 

Immediately  upon  receiving  this  communication, 
the  Assembly  being  alarmed,  adjourned,  that  they 
might  have  an  opportunity  of  consulting  their  breth- 
ren in  the  city.  They  then  appointed  a  day  of  fasting 
and  humiliation  for  themselves,  in  reference  to  their 
present  circumstances,  and  sent  letters  to  all  the  mem- 
bers to  give  their  attendance.  The  fast  was  observed 
within  their  own  walls  on  the  6th  of  May,  from  nine 
in  the  morning  until  four  in  the  afternoon.  They 
also  appointed  committees  to  consider  of  an  answer 
to  the  queries  sent  to  them  from  the  House  of 
Commons. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Parliament  and  the  London  Ministers. — Disputes  about  Toleration 
and  Uniformity. 

The  London  divines  were  accustomed  to  meet  every 
Monday  at  Sion  College,  to  consult  together  how  they 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  125 

might  best  promote  the  cause  of  rehgion,  and  also 
how  they  might  aftbrd  the  most  effectual  support  to 
their  Presbyterian  brethren,  in  the  Assembly;  for, 
out  of  the  sixty  ministers  in  London,  all  were  Pres- 
byterians except  one  or  two.  And  in  the  difficult 
circumstances  in  which  they  were  now  placed,  they 
sympathized  with  them  cordially;  and  how  they 
exerted  themselves  to  promote  the  good  cause,  will 
appear  in  the  sequel. 

The  Scottish  nation  were  thoroughly  roused  by 
this  proceeding  of  the  English  Parliament ;  so  that 
the  Parliament  of  that  kingdom  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
two  houses,  acquainting  them,  "that  it  was  expected 
the  honourable  houses  would  add  the  civil  sanction 
to  what  the  pious  and  learned  Assembly  have  ad- 
vised; and  /  am  commanded  by  the  Parliament  of 
this  kingdom,  (says  the  President)  to  demand  it,  and 
I  do,  in  their  name,  demand  it.  And  the  Parliament 
of  this  kingdom  is  persuaded,  that  the  piety  and  the 
wisdom  of  the  honourable  houses  will  never  admit 
toleration  of  any  sects  or  schisms,  contrary  to  our 
solemn  league  and  covenant."  At  the  same  time 
they  appealed  to  the  people,  and  published  a  declara- 
tion against  toleration  of  sectaries  and  liberty  of 
conscience;  which,  say  they,  "is  the  nourisher  of  all 
heresies;  observing,  that  there  was  a  party  in  Eng- 
land who  were  endeavouring  to  supplant  the  true 
religion.  They  declared  that  all  such  opinions  were 
inconsistent  with  the  true  religion,  and  favourable  to 
the  introduction  of  all  manner  of  licentiousness.  They 
say,  "that  however  the  Parliament  of  England  may 
determine  in  point  of  toleration  and  liberty  of  con- 
science, they  were  resolved  not  to  make  the  least 
start,  (advance.)  but  to  live  and  die  for  the  glory  of 
God,  in  the  entire  preservation  of  the  truth.'' 

These  intolerant  sentiments  should  be  considered 
as  the  error  of  the  age,  and  were  common  to  the 
Puritans  and  the  Reformers;  and  while  we  cannot 
but  condemn  them,  yet  we  should  never  forget,  that 
they  originated  in  a  sincere  love  of  truth,  and  ardent 
zeal  for  the  honour  of  God.     And  it  should  also  be 


126  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

remembered,  that  many  of  the  most  zealous  advocates 
for  liberty  of  conscience,  have  only  sought  the  free 
liberty  of  professing  and  propagating  pestiferous 
error.  If  civil  governments  were  infallible  in  their 
knowledge,  then  might  it  become  their  duty  to  sup- 
press error  by  coercive  measures;  but  even  in  that 
case,  it  is  evident  to  all  reflecting  men,  that  pains  and 
penalties  never  did,  nor  can,  enlighten  the  minds  of 
men.  No  doubt  the  prevalence  of  error  is  a  momen- 
tous evil,  exceeded  by  none  which  exists  among  men; 
but  the  only  proper  and  effectual  remedy  is  the  clear 
exhibition  and  forcible  vindication  of  the  truth,  by 
appealing  to  evidence  and  argument.  While  the 
Presbyterians,  in  both  kingdoms,  were  zealous  op- 
posers  of  toleration,  the  Independents  were  in  favour 
of  a  limited  toleration,  as  they,  being  a  minority, 
needed  liberty  of  conscience,  to  profess  and  propagate 
their  own  views  of  church  polity.  But  some  persons, 
at  this  time,  entertained  correct  views  on  the  subject; 
and  this  may  be  considered  as  the  dawn  of  that  day 
of  religious  liberty,  which  has'  shone  more  and  more 
until  this  time.  A  writer  who  animadverted  on  the 
answer  of  the  x\ssembly  to  the  city  divines,  seems  to 
have  been  in  advance  of  most  of  his  countrymen,  in 
maintaining  clear  views  on  this  important  subject. 
He  maintained,  '^that  liberty  of  conscience  is  the 
natural  right  of  every  man."  He  goes  the  whole 
length  to  which  his  principles  led  him;  and  in  reply- 
ing to  the  objection  of  the  ministers,  *' that  if  we 
tolerate  one  sect,  we  must  tolerate  all,"  he  admits  the 
consequence,  in  its  widest  extent,  and  maintained, 
"that  men  have  as  good  a  right  to  the  liberty  of  their 
consciences,  as  to  their  clothes  and  estates;"  and  lays 
down  the  broad  principle,  "  that  no  opinions  or  senti- 
ments of  religion  are  cognizable  by  the  magistrate, 
any  farther  than  they  are  inconsistent  with  the  peace 
of  civil  government."  Which  is  undoubtedly  the 
only  true  and  safe  principle,  and  is  universally  admit- 
ted in  this  country  now.  He  argues,  '^'that  persecu- 
tion will  breed  more  confusion  than  toleration;  and 
then  proves  that  religious  liberty  is  the  doctrine  of 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  '  ]  27 

ihe  New  Testament:  1.  From  the  parable  of  the  tares. 
2.  From  the  apostle's  declaration,  "  Let  every  man 
be  persuaded  in  his  own  mind."  3.  And  from  this: 
"That  whatsoever  is  not  of  faith,  is  sin.''  And 
finally,  from  our  Saviour's  golden  rule,  "That  what- 
soever ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  ye  ought 
to  do  to  them." 

This  pamphlet  was  answered  by  one  entitled 
"  Anti-Toleration,"  in  which  the  most  unlimited 
power  of  persecution  is  vindicated.  The  high  ground 
taken  by  the  Presbyterians  on  this  subject,  was  very 
injurious  to  them,  and  rendered  them  unpopular  with 
many,  who  now  saw  that  the  contest  was  not  for 
liberty,  but  iox  power;  and  that  all  the  benefit  likely 
to  arise  from  the  change,  was  to  wear  the  yoke  of 
Presbyterial,  instead  of  Episcopal  uniformity. 

This  subject  of  toleration  had  much  to  do  with  the 
differences  between  the  Assembly  and  Parliament; 
for  while  the  former  were  steady  in  their  opposition 
to  religious  liberty,  the  latter  were  more  and  more 
inclined   to  favour  it,  as  they  saw  that  the  divines 
themselves  could  not  agree  in  church  government; 
and  as  the  successes  of  the  army  gave  them  influence 
in  Parliament,  their   principal   leaders    being    Inde- 
pendents in  principle,  were  desirous  of  obtaining  for 
them  some  accommodation,  or  at  least  such  toleration 
as  would  preserve  them  from  persecution.     As  early 
as  September,   1644,  the   Committee   of  Lords  and 
Commons,  appointed  to  treat  with  the  Scottish  Com- 
missioners, were  directed  to  take  into  consideration 
the  differences  of  the  opinions  of  the  members  of  the 
Assembly  in  point  of  church  government,  and  endea- 
vour to  bring  about  a  union,  if  possible;  and  if  that 
could  not  be   accomplished,'  to  endeavour  "  to  find 
some  way  by  which  tender  consciences  which  cannot 
in  all  things  submit  to  the  same  rule,  may  be  borne 
with  according  to  the  word  of  God,  and  consistent 
with  the  public  peace.     This  was  called  the  Grand 
Committee  of  Accommodation,  which  met  first  on 
the  20th  of  September,  1644,  and  appointed  a  sub- 
committee of  six  divines  of  the  Assembly,  to  consider 


128  WESTMINSTER    ASSE3IBLY. 

the  points  of  difference,  and  to  prepare  materials 
for  the  consideration  of  the  grand  committee.  The 
persons  selected  for  this  sab-committee,  were  JVIr. 
Marshall,  Mr.  Herle,  Mr.  Vines,  Dr.  Temple,  Mr. 
Goodwin,  and  Mr.  Nye.  After  due  deliberation,  they 
gave  it  as  the  opinion  of  the  majority,  that  the  Pres- 
byterian plan  of  government  should  first  be  estab- 
lished, and  then  they  might  consider  such  exceptions 
as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  might  require.  But 
the  Independents  wished  that  their  objections  should 
be  heard  and  disposed  of  before  any  plan  of  church 
polity  was  established.  The  Presbyterians  also  in- 
sisted, that  those  who  objected  to  the  Presbyterian 
government,  should  be  a  committee  to  bring  in  the 
whole  frame  of  their  government,  in  a  body,  with 
their  grounds  and  reasons;  whereas,  the  Independ- 
ents wished  to  have  the  liberty  to  bring  in  their 
objections  by  parts,  as  the  Presbyterians  had  done 
by  their  advices.  But  this  not  being  admitted,  they 
desired  time  to  perfect  their  plan  before  any  other 
scheme  passed  into  a  law.  The  Presbyterians,  how- 
ever, by  the  aid  of  their  Scottish  friends,  pushed  the 
business  onward  to  a  conclusion,  in  Parliament. 
This  occasioned  a  remonstrance  from  the  Independ- 
ents, in  which  they  complained  of  unfair  treatment, 
as  the  system  of  church  government  had  been  estab- 
lished before  they  had  time  to  bring  in  their  plan  and 
reasons;  and  now  there  was  no  room  for  a  compre- 
hension. The  House  of  Commons  appeared  to  be 
convinced  that  they  had  acted  hastily  in  this  business; 
and  of  their  own  accord,  in  November,  1645,  they 
received  the  Committee  of  Accommodation.  This 
Committee  was  made  to  consist  of  five  peers,  from 
the  House  of  Lords:  the  Earl  of  Northumberland, 
the  Earl  of  Manchester,  Lord  Viscount  Say  and  Seal, 
Lord  Wharton,  and  Lord  Howard.  These  were, 
with  the  Scottish  Commissioners,  to  confer  with  Dr. 
Burgess,  Mr.  Marshall,  Mr.  Herle,  Mr.  Reynolds, 
Dr.  Hoyle,  Mr.  White,  Mr.  Vines,  Mr.  Hill,  Dr.  Tem- 
ple, Mr.  Palmer,  Mr.  Tuckney,  Mr.  Arrowsmith,  Dr. 
Smith,  Mr.  Seaman,  Mr.  Newcoman,and  Mr.  Young, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


129 


together  with  the  dissenting  brethren  of  the  x\ssem- 
bly,  Mr.  Thomas  Goodwin,  Mr.  Simpson,  Mr.  Nye, 
Mr.  Burroughs,  Mr.  Bridges,  and  Mr.  Drury. 

This  coQimittee  met  in  the  Jerusalem  Chamber, 
November  17,  1645,  and  were  about  to  enter  upon 
the  consideration  of  some  scheme  for  comprehension; 
but  the  Independents  alleged,  that  the  time  had 
passed  for  accomplishing  any  thing  of  this  sort;  and 
that  now  nothing  was  left  for  them  but  simply  a 
toleration^  as  they  were  already  excluded  from  the 
establishment;  and  accordingly,  they  offered  the  fol- 
lowing proposals:  1.  That  their  congregations  may 
have  the  power  of  ordination  within  themselves.  2. 
That  they  may  not  be  brought  under  the  power  of 
the  classes,  nor  forced  to  communicate  in  those  par- 
ish churches  where  they  dwell;  but  that  they  may 
have  the  liberty  to  join  with  such  congregations  as 
they  please,  and  to  have  all  church  censures  within 
themselves,  subject  only  to  Parliament.  To  these 
proposals,  the  Presbyterians  objected:  1.  ^'That  this 
imphed  a  total  separation  from  the  established  rule. 
2.  That  it  granted  the  lawfulness  of  gathering  churches 
out  of  other  true  churches.  3.  That  by  this  means, 
the  Parliament  would  destroy  what  they  had  set  up. 
4.  That  the  members  of  Independent  churches  would 
have  greater  privileges  than  those  of  the  establish- 
ment. 5.  That  this  would  countenance  a  perpetual 
schism;  and,  6.  Introduce  all  manner  of  confusion  in 
families."  They  therefore  proposed,  that  such  as, 
after  conference  with  their  minister,  were  not  satisfied 
with  the  establishment,  should  not  be  compelled  to 
communicate  in  the  Lord's  Supper,  nor  be  liable  to 
censures  from  classes  and  synods,  provided  they 
joined  with  the  parish  congregation  where  they 
lived,  and  were  under  the  government  of  it  in  other 
respects. 

The  Independents  replied,  that  they  did  not  intend 
a  total  separation,  but  should  argue  with  their  breth- 
ren in  the  most  essential  points,  as  in  worshipping 
according  to  the  Directory,  in  choosing  the  same  offi- 
cers, pastors,  teachers,  ruling  elders,  with  the  same 

9 


130  WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 

qualifications  as  in  the  rule.  That  they  should  re- 
quire the  same  qualifications  in  their  members.  That 
they  should  yjractise  the  same  discipline,  and  would 
be  accountable  for  their  conduct  to  their  superiors. 
They  were  willing  also,  to  hold  occasional  communion 
with  their  Presbyterian  brethren,  and  receiving  their 
members  to  communion  in  return.  That  their  minis- 
ters also,  might  interchange  ministerial  services,  as 
occasion  required;  and  when  in  difficulty  would  call 
for  assistance  and  advice  from  each  other.  Such 
a  separation,  they  insisted,  ouglit  not  to  be  branded 
with  the  odious  name  of  schism,  as  they  were  dis- 
posed to  maintain  Christian  law,  and  communion 
with  those  from  whom  they  differed  on  minor  points. 
They  also  declared  their  willingness  to  be  restricted 
as  to  the  number  of  their  places  of  worship,  if  they 
could  only  have  as  many  as  would  be  receptacles  for 
persons  of  tender  consciences. 

The  Presbyterians  replied  to  these  proposals,  by 
blaming  them  for  not  seeking  a  comprehension,  and 
then  attempted  to  refute  them  by  reasoning  thus: — 
*' If  a  pretence  of  conscience  be  a  sufficient  ground 
of  separation,  men  may  gather  impure  and  corrupt 
churches  out  of  purer;  because,  upon  the  dictate  of 
an  erring  conscience,  may  disallow  that  which  is 
pure,  and  set  up  that  which  is  agreeable  to  their 
erring  consciences.  And,"  say  they,  "we  very  much 
doubt,  whether  tenderness  of  conscience  in  doubtful 
points,  will  justify  a  separation.  It  may  oblige  men 
to  forbear  communion,  but  not  to  set  up  a  contrary 
practice."  They  then  argued  from  the  concessions 
of  the  Independents,  that  if  they  agreed  on  so  many 
points  with  the  established  religion,  they  ought  not  to 
separate  on  account  of  minor  matters.  "If,"  said 
they,  "you  can  communicate  with  the  established 
church  occasionally,  why  not  constantly?  As  for  the 
toleration  which  our  brethren  desire,  we  apprehend  it 
will  open  a  door  to  all  sects;  and  though  the  Inde- 
pendents here  plead  for  it,  their  brethren  in  New 
England  do  not  allow  it."  As  to  the  char2:e  of  scliism, 
they  said,  they  did  not  consider  that  all  difference  of 


\VEST3IINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  131 

judgment,  in  every  point,  amounted  to  schism;  nor 
every  want  of  conformity  in  external  regulations  and 
forms  of  worship.  "  But  our  brethren  further  desire, 
to  set  up  separate  communions,  which  is  a  manifest 
rupture  of  our  societies,  and  is  therefore  a  schism  in 
the  body;  as  Austin  says,  ' Schismaticos  facit  non  di- 
versa  Jides,  sed  coininunionis  dlsrupta  societas.^  " 
To  which  they  added,  that  this  indulgence  if  granted, 
would  be  the  mother  of  all  contentions,  strifes,  here- 
sies, and  confusions  in  the  church;  and  contrary  to 
their  covenant,  which  obliged  them  to  seek  to  their 
utmost  an  uniformity. 

The  Independents  argued,  that  uniformity  was  not 
necessary  to  the  unity  and  peace  of  the  churches,  and 
ought  not  to  extend  beyond  people's  light  and  measure 
of  understanding,  according  to  the  apostolical  canon, 
"As  far  as  we  have  attained,  let  us  walk  by  the  same 
rule." 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  committee,  March  9, 
1646,  the  Presbyterians  insisted  on  all  their  former 
positions,  and  concluded  their  answer  by  saying,  "If 
uniformity,"  as  our  brethren  say,  "  should  be  urged  no 
further  than  is  agreeable  to  all  men's  consciences  and 
their  edification,  it  seems  as  if  they  not  only  desired 
liberty  of  conscience  for  themselves  but  for  all  men; 
and  would  have  us  think  that  we  are  not  bound  by 
covenant,  to  bring  the  churches  in  the  three  kingdoms 
to  any  nearer  uniformity  than  is  consistent  with  the 
liberty  of  all  men's  consciences;  which,  whether  it  be 
the  sense  of  the  covenant,  we  leave  with  the  honour- 
able committee."  Upon  which  Mr.  Jeremiah  Bur- 
roughs, a  divine  of  great  candour  and  moderation,  de- 
clared in  the  name  of  the  Independents,  "  that  if  their 
congregations  might  not  be  exempted  from  the  coer- 
cive power  of  the  classes;  if  they  might  not  have 
liberty  to  govern  themselves  in  their  own  way,  as 
long  as  they  behaved  peaceably  towards  the  civil  ma- 
gistrate, they  were  resolved  to  suffer,  or  to  go  to  some 
other  place  of  the  world,  where  they  might  enjoy  their 
liberty.  But  while  men  think  that  there  is  no  way  of 
peace,  but  by  forcing  all  to  be  of  the  same  mindj 


132 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


while  they  think  that  the  civil  sword  is  an  ordinance 
of  God  to  determine  all  controversies  of  divinity,  and 
that  it  mast  needs  be  attended  with  fines  and  impris- 
onments to  the  disobedient;  while  they  apprehend  there 
is  no  medium  between  a  strict  uniformity  and  a  gen- 
eral confusion  of  all  things;  while  these  sentiments 
prevail,  there  must  be  a  base  subjection  of  men's  con- 
sciences to  slavery,  a  suppression  of  much  truth,  and 
great  disturbance  in  the  Christian  world. 

"Little  did  the  Presbyterians  then  think,''  says 
Neal,  "that  in  less  than  twenty  years  all  their  artille- 
ry would  be  turned  against  themselves,  and  that  they 
should  be  excluded  the  establishment  by  an  act  of 
prelatical  uniformity;  that  they  should  be  reduced 
to  the  necessity  of  pleading  for  that  indulgence  which 
they  now  denied  their  brethren;  and  esteem  it  their 
duty  to  gather  churches  for  separate  worship,  out 
of  other  churches,  which  they  allowed  to  be  true 
churches."  He  goes  on  to  observe,  "If  the  leading 
Presbyterians  in  the  Assembly  and  city,  had  carried 
it  with  temper  towards  the  Independents,  and  allowed 
even  of  a  limited  toleration,  they  had,  in  all  likelihood, 
prevented  the  disputes  between  the  army  and  Parlia- 
ment, which  involved  them  in  one  common  ruin. 
They  might  then  have  saved  the  constitution,  and 
made  their  own  terms  with  the  king,  who  was  now 
their  prisoner,  but  they  were  enamoured  with  the 
charms  of  their  covenant  uniformity^  and  the  divine 
right  of  presbytery,  which,  after  all,  the  Parliament 
would  not  admit  in  its  full  extent."  Mr.  Baxter,  who 
was  no  friend  to  Independency,  says,  "  that  the  Pres- 
byterian ministers  were  so  little  sensible  of  their  own 
infirmities,  that  they  would  not  agree  to  tolerate  those 
who  were  not  only  tolerable,  but  worthy  instruments 
and  members,  of  the  churches.  Prudent  men  were 
for  union  in  things  necessary,  liberty  in  things  un- 
necessary,  and  for  charity  in  all;  but  they  could  not 
be  heard." 

After  the  king  had  fled  to  the  Scots  for  refuge,  and 
every  thing  seemed  to  promise  full  success  to  the  cause 
of  the  Parliament,  the  Presbyterians  of  London  re- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


133 


sumed  their  courage,  and  framed  a  bold  remonstrance, 
in  tiie  name  of  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Com- 
mon Council,  and  presented  it  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons on  the  26th  day  of  May,  1646,  complaining  of 
the  laxity  of  discipline,  and  of  the  swarming  of  Secta- 
ries, in  consequence  of  the  toleration  granted  to  tender 
consciences.  They  put  the  Parliament  in  mind  of  their 
covenant  engagements  by  which  they  were  bound, 
to  endeavour  the  extirpation  of  popery,  prelacy,  su- 
perstition, heresy,  schism,  profaneness,  and  whatever 
else  was  found  contrary  to  sound  doctrine,  &c.  They, 
therefore,  requested,  "that  all  separate  congregations 
might  be  suppressed;  that  all  such  separatists  who 
conform  not  to  the  pubhc  discipline  may  be  declared 
against;  that  no  person  disaffected  to  the  Presbyterial 
government  set  forth  by  Parliament,  may  be  employ- 
ed in  any  place  of  public  trust.''  This  remonstrance 
was  seconded  by  the  whole  Scotch  nation,  who 
acted  in  concert  with  their  English  brethren,  as  ap- 
pears by  a  letter  of  thanks  from  the  General  Assem- 
bly, to  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common 
Council,  written  shortly  after  the  delivery  of  the  re- 
monstrance. They  also  addressed  letters  to  the  Par- 
liament; and  to  the  Westminster  Assembly.  These 
letters  were  printed  and  dispersed  all  over  the 
kingdom. 

The  Parliament  were  not  much  pleased  with  the 
bold  language  of  the  remonstrance;  but  they  felt  the 
importance  of  conciliating  the  Presbyterians  of  Lon- 
don, and  also  were  unwilling  to  give  offence  to  the 
Scottish  nation,  they  therefore  received  the  remon- 
strants respectfully,  and  promised  to  take  the  particu- 
lars mentioned  into  consideration. 

But  now  the  army  began  to  speak  concerning  these 
matters;  and  being  full  of  Independents  and  Sectarists, 
they  began  to  be  alarmed  at  the  storm  which  impend- 
ed; and  obtained  from  their  friends  in  London  a  coun- 
ter petition,  signed  by  many  hands,  in  which  they 
applaud  the  Parliament  for  their  labours  and  suc- 
cesses in  the  cause  of  liberty;  and  pray  them  to  go 
on  and  manage  the  affairs  of  the  kingdom  according 


134  WEST3IIXSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

to  their  wisdom,  and  not  to  suffer  the  free-born  people 
of  Ei^gland  to  be  enslaved,  on  any  pretence  whatso- 
ever; nor  to  suffer  any  set  of  people  to  jwesci^ibe  to 
them  in  matters  of  government  or  conscience,  and 
the  petitioners  promise  to  stand  by  them,  with  their 
lives  and  fortunes. 

The  Parliament  was  much  embarrassed  between 
the  contenders  for  liberty,  and  for  uniformity;  and 
endeavoured  to  avoid  a  decision  until  they  saw  the 
success  of  their  negociation  with  the  king.  They 
kept  the  Presbyterians  in  su^^pense,  by  insisting  on 
an  answer  to  the  queries  submitted  to  them  for  solu- 
tion long  since;  insinuating  that  they  themselves  were 
the  obstacle  to  a  full  settlement  of  church  government. 
Upon  this  the  Assembly  appointed  three  committees 
to  consider  of  suitable  answers  to  these  queries.  But 
the  committee  to  consider  the  first  question,  "Whether 
any  church  government  was  of  divine  right?"  being 
partly  composed  of  Erastians,  could  not  agree,  and 
the  report  brought  into  the  Assembly  was  therefore 
not  in  the  usual  form,  but  the  report  of  some  brethren 
of  the  committee.  When  the  vote  was  about  to  be 
taken  on  the  proposition  presented,  in  answer  to  the 
first  query  of  the  Parliament,  the  Erastians  withdrew 
from  the  Assembly,  intending  to  prosecute  their  cause 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  where  they  knew  that 
they  had  many  friends,  and  would  have  much  more 
likelihood  of  success  than  in  the  Assembly.  Neal 
says,  "  that  they  left  the  high  Presbyterians  to  them- 
selves, who  agreed,  with  only  one  dissenting  voice, 
^  that  Jesus  Christ,  as  King  of  the  churchy  hath  hitn- 
self  appointed  a  church  government  distinct  from 
the  civil  magistrate.'^  "  He  then  gives  a  list  of  fifty- 
two  ministers  who  subscribed  this  proposition;  but 
instead  of  being  all  high  Presbyterians,  we  find  the 
names  of  Goodwin,  Nye,  Caryl,  and  Carter.  And  it 
should  be  remembered,  that  alfliough  the  Indepen- 
dents opposed  the  jus  divinum  of  presbytery,  they 
held  the  divine  right  of  congregational  church  govern- 
ment; and  therefore  could  as  consistently  subscribe 
this  proposition  as  the  Presbyterians.      The  single 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


135 


dissenter,  when  this  vote  was  taken,  was  Dr.  Light- 
foot;  but  if  Mr.  Coleman  had  not  been  sick,  there 
would  have  been  two.  The  Assembly  were  engaged 
from  May  to  the  latter  end  of  July,  in  discussing  the 
remaining  questions;  and  in  the  mean  time,  the  Inde- 
pendents also  withdrew,  and  left  the  Presbyterians  to 
themselves. 

The  Assembly,  however,  since  their  fright  about  a 
prcKmunire,  were  very  unwilling  to  come  before  Par- 
liament, with  such  answers  as  their  sentiments  would, 
lead  them  to  make  to  the  queries  which  they  had  so 
long  under  consideration.  But  the  London  ministers 
felt  themselves  under  no  such  restraint,  and  did  not 
hesitate  to  come  out  boldly  in  giving  expression  to  their 
opinions.  At  a  meeting  which  they  held  at  Sion  Col- 
lege, they  drew  up  a  paper,  or  rather  a  treatise,  entitled, 
"  The  Divine  Right  of  Church  Government  by 
THE  London  ministers.^'  In  this  work  they  gave 
a  distinct  answer  to  each  of  the  queries  sent  to  the 
Assembly  by  the  Parliament,  and  undertook  to  de- 
monstrate that  every  branch  of  the  Presbyterial  gov- 
ernment was  of  divine  right,  and  boldly  maintained 
that  the  civil  magistrate  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 
censures  of  the  church,  and  no  right  to  interfere  with 
them.  And  to  show  that  they  were  in  good  earnest 
in  maintaining  this  principle,  they  came  to  a  solemn, 
resolution  that  they  would  not  comply  with  the  ex- 
isting establishment  until  it  was  delivered  from  the 
yoke  of  the  civil  magistrate.  They  also  drew  up  a 
paper  containing  their  reasons  for  opposing  the  prin- 
ciples established  by  the  ordinance  of  Parliament, 
which  paper  they  sent  to  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London, 
who,  after  consulting  with  the  city  council,  sent  a  de- 
putation to  the  convention  at  Sion  College,  offering  to 
concur  with  them  in  a  petition  for  redress.  Such  a 
petition  was  accordingly  prepared  and  signed,  and 
sent  to  the  House  of  Commons,  but  produced  no 
effect.  The  Parliament  to  counteract  this  combina- 
tion, published  an  order  requiring  the  city  of  London 
to  observe  the  ordinance  relating  to  the  government 
of  the  church;  and  moreover,  requiring  them  to  send 


136  WEST3IINSTEK    ASSEMBLY. 

copies  of  the  ordinance  to  every  parish  within  their 
jurisdiction,  and  to  take  effectual  care  that  its  provi- 
sions should  be  carried  into  immediate  execution. 

Upon  this,  the  ministers  of  London  and  Westmin- 
ster held  another  convention  at  Sion  College,  and  now 
found  it  expedient  to  recede  from  the  ground  which 
they  had  assumed.  At  this  meeting  they  agreed 
upon  and  published ''certain  considerations,  accord- 
ing to  which  they  agree  to  put  the  Presbyterial  gov- 
ernment into  practice,  according  to  the  present  estab- 
lishment.'^ They  still,  however,  retained  and  re- 
peated their  principle,  "  That  the  power  of  church 
censures  ought  to  be  in  the  hands  of  church  officers, 

BY  THE   WILL    AND    APPOINTMENT    OF    JeSUS  ChRIST. 

But  they  admitted  that  the  magistrate  ought  to  be 
satisfied  of  the  truth  of  that  church  government, 
which  by  law  they  authorize.  And  ahhough  it  be 
not  right  in  every  particular,  yet  church  officers  may 
act  under  it,  provided  they  are  not  required  to  de- 
clare or  acknowledge  the  rule  to  be  right  in  every 
point.  Therefore,  although  they  conceived  the  ordi- 
nances of  Parliament  already  published,  are  not  a 
complete  rule,  nor  in  all  points  satisfactory  to  their 
consciences;  yet,  because  in  many  things  they  are  so, 
and  provision  being  made  to  enable  the  eldersliips  by 
their  authority,  to  keep  away  from  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per all  ignorant  and  scandalous  persons,  and  a  further 
declaration  being  made,  that  there  shall  be  an  addi- 
tion to  the  list  of  scandalous  offences,  heretofore  enu- 
merated, therefore  they  conceive  it  their  duty  to  put 
in  practice  the  present  settlement,  as  far  as  they  con- 
ceive it  correspondent  with  the  word  of  God,  hoping 
that  the  Parliament  will,  in  due  time,  supply  what  is 
lacking  to  make  tlie  government  entire,  and  rectify 
what  shall  appear  to  be  amiss." 

Thus,  at  the  last,  Parliament  maintained  its  ground, 
and  brought  the  stout  hearts  of  the  Presbyterian  min- 
isters of  London  to  a  reluctant  submission  to  their 
authority. 

The  Presbyterial  form  of  government  was  now 
carried  into  operation  in  the  city  of  London,  and  in 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  137 

Other  places;  but  the  particulars  will  be  reserved  for 
another  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Sequestration  of  Ministers. — Ejection  of  Masters  and  Professors  from 
the  University  of  Cambridge. 

From  the  time  of  taking  the  covenant  the  virtual  dis- 
solution of  the  English  hierarchy  may  be  dated;  al- 
though the  actual  repeal  by  an  ordinance  of  Parlia- 
ment did  not  take  place  until  some  time  afterwards. 
And  when  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  sus- 
pended for  disobedience  to  the  orders  of  Parliament, 
all  collation  to  benefices  was  by  the  nomination  and 
order  of  the  two  Houses.  But  as  soon  as  the  West- 
minster Assembly  were  convened,  all  ecclesiastical 
matters,  by  direction  of  Parliament,  went  through 
their  hands.  The  parishes  elected  their  ministers, 
the  Assembly  examined  and  approved  them,  and  the 
Parliament  confirmed  them  in  their  benefices.  This 
created  much  business  for  the  Assembly,  and  after 
awhile  occupied  the  greater  portion  of  their  time,  for 
the  number  of  persons  who  applied  for  sequestered 
livings  was  very  great.  To  facilitate  this  business, 
they  were  obliged  to  choose  a  select  committee  to 
attend  to  it.  The  names  of  this  committee  were,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Gouge,  Dr.  Staunton,  Dr.  Lightfoot,  Dr. 
Smith,  Dr.  Temple,  Dr.  Packney,  Dr.  Hayle,  Dr. 
Burges,  Dr.  Spurstow,  Mr,  Sey,  Mr.  Reynolds,  Mr. 
Conant,  Mr.  Garver,  Mr.  Colm'an,  Mr.  Hill,  Mr.  Cor- 
teel,Mr.  Gataker,  Mr.  Herle,  Mr.  Hall, Mr.  Whitaker, 
Mr.  Bathurst,  and  Mr.  Cheynell. 

"  The  method  of  examination,"  says  Neal,  "  was 
this:  the  names  of  the  ministers  who  petitioned  for 
livings,  or  were  recommended  by  either  House  of 
Parliament,  being  pubhshed  in  the  Assembly  two  or 
three  days  before  the  examination,  liberty  was  given 


138 


WESTMINSTER    ASSE3IBLY. 


in  that  time  to  make  exceptions  to  their  character. 
If  nothing  was  objected,  thev  were  examined  by  the 
aforesaid  committee,  or  any  five  of  them,  who  re- 
ported their  qualifications  to  the  Assembly,  and  they 
then  received  a  certificate  of  recommendation  to  the 
parish  for  which  the  apphcation  was  made;  and  the 
scribes  were  directed  to  keep  an  exact  Hst  of  all  min- 
isters recommended  to  sequestered  livings,  and  to 
enter  the  same  in  a  book  kept  for  that  purpose. 

From  Dr.  Lightfoot's  Journal,  it  appears  that  these 
candidates  were  required  to  preach  before  the  com- 
mittee as  one  part  of  their  trials;  and  such  trial  ser- 
mons were  often  delivered  several  days  in  the  week, 
so  great  was  the  number  of  candidates. 

The  sequestration  of  ecclesiastical  livings,  which 
made  so  many  vacancies,  was  chiefly  owing  to  the 
fact,  that  many  of  the  clergy  took  part  in  the  civil 
dispute  with  the  king;  and  when  their  livings  were 
situated  in  a  place  under  the  power  of  the  Parlia- 
ment, they  either  forsook  them,  or  were  ejected  as 
being  hostile  to  the  Parliament.  But  it  appears,  that 
at  that  time,  there  were  in  the  church  many  incom- 
petent ministers,  and  many  whose  lives  were  scanda- 
lous. These  also  were  ejected,  and  qualified  men 
substituted  in  their  place. 

The  University  of  Oxford  and  also  the  town  were 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  king;  and  here  he  held 
his  court,  and  here  was  for  a  long  time  the  head- 
quarters for  the  army.  The  University  of  Cambridge 
was  also  friendly  to  the  royal  cause,  but  the  town 
was  favourable  to  the  Parliament,  and  the  place  was 
within  their  power.  A  committee  of  sequestration 
was  appointed  for  the  University  of  Cambridge,  and 
for  removing  scandalous  ministers  in  the  seven  asso- 
ciated counties.  The  ordinance  appointing  them,  sets 
forth  "  that  the  service  of  the  Parliament  was  retard- 
ed, the  people's  souls  starved  by  the  idle,  ill-aff'ected, 
and  scandalous  clergy  of  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
and  the  associated  counties.  The  earl  of  Manches- 
ter, therefore,  was  empowered  to  appoint  committees 
who  should  have  authority  to  call  before  them  all 


WESTMINSTER    ASSE3IBLY.  139 

provosts,  masters,  and  fellows  of  colleges,  and  all 
students  of  the  university,  all  ministers  in  the  coun- 
ties of  the  association,  and  all  school  masters  that 
were  scandalous  in  their  lives,  or  ill-affected  to  the 
Parliament,  or  fomenters  of  this  unnatural  war,  or 
that  shall  wilfully  refuse  obedience  to  the  orders  of 
Parliament,  or  have  deserted  their  ordinary  places  of 
residence,  not  being  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
king  and  Parliament.  The  said  committee  were  also 
authorized  to  send  for  witnesses,  and  examine  com- 
plaints against  the  fore-mentioned  delinquents  on 
oath,  and  to  certify  the  names  of  the  persons  accused 
to  the  earl  of  Manchester,  who  shall  have  power  to 
eject  such  as  are  unfit  for  their  places;  to  sequester 
their  estates,  and  to  dispose  of  them  as  he  shall  think 
fit,  and  place  others  in  their  room,  being  first  ap- 
proved by  the  Assembly  of  divines  at  Westminster. 
He  also  had  power  to  administer  the  covenant  to 
whom  he  would,  and  to  assign  one  fifth  of  the  se- 
questered estates  for  the  maintenance  of  the  wives 
and  children  of  delinquents. 

The  Earl  of  Manchester  (formerly  Lord  Kimbolton) 
repaired  in  person  to  Cambridge,  and  required  the 
heads  of  the  several  colleges  to  send  him  their  statutes, 
with  the  names  of  their  members,  and  to  certify  who 
were  present,  and  who  absent,  with  the  express  time 
of  their  discontinuance.  The  fellows  of  a  number  of 
the  colleges  were  ejected,  for  non-residence,  not  re- 
turning after  due  summons,  and  for  political  misde- 
meanors. The  covenant  was  used  as  a  test,  and  offer- 
ed to  such  as  were  suspected  of  being  disaffected. 
The  whole  number  expelled  in  this  and  following 
years,  including  masters  and  fellows,  according  to 
Dr.  Walker,  was  little  short  of  two  hundred ;  which 
was  something  more  than  one  half  the  graduate  mem- 
bers. Out  of  sixteen  heads  of  colleges,  six  by  com- 
pliance kept  their  places.  These  were  Dr.  Bain- 
brigge  of  Christ's  College,  Dr.  Eden  of  Trinity  Hall, 
Dr.  Richard  Love  of  Bennet  College,  Dr.  Brown- 
rigge  of  Katherine  Hall,  (ejected  in  1645,)  Dr.  Bach- 
croft  of  Caius  College,  and  Dr.  Rainbow  of  Magdalen 


140 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


College.  The  ten  ejected,  at  this  visitation,  were, 
Dr.  John  Cosins  from  Peter  House,  succeeded  by  Dr. 
Lazarus  Seaman;  Dr.  Thomas  Pask  from  Clare  Hall, 
succeeded  by  Dr.  R.  Cud  worth;  Dr.  Benjamin  Laney, 
from  Pembroke  Hall, succeeded  by  Mr.  Richard  Vines; 
Dr.  Samuel  Collins  from  King's  College,  succeeded 
by  Dr.  Benjamin  Whichcote;  Dr.  E.  Martin  from 
Queen's  College,  succeeded  by  Mr.  H.  Palmer;  Dr.  R. 
Stern  from  Jesus'  College,  succeeded  by  Dr.  T.  Young; 
Dr.  W.  Beale  from  St.  John's  College,  succeeded  by 
Dr.  J.  Arrowsmith;  Dr.  Thomas  Comber  from  Trinity 
Hall,  succeeded  by  Dr.  Thomas  Hill;  Dr.  R.  Holds- 
worth  from  Emanuel  College,  succeeded  by  Dr.  An- 
thony Tuckney;  Dr.  Samuel  Ward,  Sidney  College, — 
by  Dr.  R.  IMinshull;  and  in  1645,  Dr.  R.  Brownrigge 
from  Kath.  Hall,  succeeded  by  Dr.  Spurstow,  and 
afterwards  by  Dr.  Lightfoot.' 

Some  of  those  heads  of  colleges,  who  were  ejected 
on  this  occasion,  were  undoubtedly  men  of  great 
worth  and  great  learning;  and  perhaps,  in  the  mere 
learning  of  the  schools,  were  superior  to  their  succes- 
sors; but  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  brighter  con- 
stellation of  distinguished  scholars  and  theologians, 
than  those  now  placed  at  the  heads  of  the  colleges  of 
the  University.  And  if  they  were  in  any  respect  in- 
ferior to  their  predecessors,  in  diligence  and  fidelity, 
in  the  execution  of  their  functions  they  were  greatly 
before  them;  and  exerted  a  religious  influence  on  the 
youth,  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  the  nation. 

The  oath  now  prescribed  to  the  masters  of  colleges, 
was  very  strict  and  solemn.  It  was  in  the  following 
words,  viz.  "  I  do  solemnly  and  seriously  promise,  in 
the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  the  searcher  of  all 
hearts,  that  during  the  time  of  my  continuance  in  this 
charge,  I  shall  faithfully  labour  to  promote  learning 
and  piety  in  myself,  the  fellows,  scholars,  and  students 
that  do,  or  shall  belong  to  the  said  college,  agreeably 
to  the  late  solemn  league  and  covenant,  by  me 
sworn  and  subscribed,"  &c. 

>  Neal,  Vol.  ii.  p.  82. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  141 

The  only  thing  which  bears  an  unfavourable  aspect 
in  these  appointments,  was,  that  almost  all  the  masters 
were  selected  from  the  Assembly:  but  it  may  be  said 
in  apology  for  this,  that  the  most  learned  divines  in 
the  country,  who  adhered  to  the  Parliament,  were  in 
the  Assembly;  and  again,  that  by  being  there,  their 
talents  came  to  be  more  fully  and  generally  known. 

The  filling  up  the  fellowships  now  vacated,  was  a 
more  serious  business.  All  candidates  were  examined 
by  the  Assembly,  and  in  about  six  months  the  requi- 
site number  was  made  up.  The  University  now  ea- 
joyed  a  delightful  tranquillity  and  harmony;  and 
learning  and  religion  flourished  in  the  several  halls 
and  colleges.  .  Yet  some  of  the  writers  of  the  King's 
party,  have  represented  the  change  now  made,  as 
though  the  Goths  and  Vandals  had  invaded  the  Uni- 
versity, and  had  reduced  all  things  to  confusion  and 
anarchy;  and  had  not  left  a  vestige  of  true  learning 
and  discipline  in  the  place. 

The  earl  of  Manchester  also  extended  his  visitatioji 
to  the  ministers  of  the  seven  associated  counties,  by 
giving  a  warrant  to  commissioners  to  proceed  in  ex- 
amining into  the  several  cases  requiring  their  atten- 
tion. To  these  he  gave  special  instructions  how  to 
proceed  in  all  the  parts  of  the  trial.  And  when  any 
minister  was,  upon  trial,  convicted,  report  was  made 
to  the  earl,  who  directed  a  warrant  to  the  church- 
wardens of  the  parish,  to  eject  him  out  of  his  parson- 
age, and  all  the  profits  thereof.  At  the  same  time  he 
directed  the  parishioners  to  choose  a  proper  minister 
for  the  vacant  place,  and  upon  their  presentation  he 
was  sent  to  the  Assembly  of  divines,  with  an  account 
of  his  character,  for  their  trial  and  examination.  And 
upon  a  certificate  from  the  Assembly,  that  they  ap- 
proved of  him  as  an  orthodox  divine,  and  qualified 
to  officiate  in  the  pastoral  function,  his  lordship  issued 
his  last  warrant,  authorizing  and  appointing  him  to 
teach,  preach,  and  catechise;  and  to  take  possession 
of  the  church,  parsonage,  &c. 

It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  the  number  of  ministers 
that  were  cast  out  of  their  hvings  during  the  war. 


142  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

Dr.  Nalson  says,  that  in  five  of  the  associated  coun- 
ties, one  hundred  and  fifty-six  clergymen  were  ejected 
in  the  course  of  a  year;  and  allowing  a  proportiona- 
ble number  for  the  remaining  counties  of  this  district, 
the  whole  will  amount  to  two  hundred  and  eighteen. 
And  if  we  suppose  the  same  proportion  in  the  fifty- 
two  counties  of  England,  the  whole  number  would  be 
sixteen  hunured  and  upwards.  Dr.  Walker,  how- 
ever, has  by  a  fallacious  computation,  increased  the 
number  to  eight  thousand.  Upon  the  fairest  calcu- 
lation, the  number  will  fall  considerably  short  of  two 
thousand,  in  all  the  counties  of  England.  Mr.  Baxter 
says,  ^'They  cast  out  the  grosser  sort  of  insufficient 
and  scandalous  clergy,  and  some  few  civil  men,  that 
had  acted  in  the  wars  for  the  king;  but  left  in  near 
one  half  of  those  that  were  but  barely  tolerable." 
He  further  states,  "  That  in  the  counties  where  he 
was  acquainted,  six  to  one  of  the  sequestered  minis- 
ters, were  by  the  oaths  of  witnesses,  proved  insuffi- 
cient, or  scandalous,  or  both." 

This  ejectment  does  not  admit  of  a  comparison  with 
that  which  took  place  at  the  restoration,  for  non-con- 
formity. In  tliiscase,  the  principal  ground  was  either 
political,  because  they  were  considered  enemies  to  the 
existing  government;  or,  because  they  were  totally 
unfit  for  the  sacred  office  of  the  ministry;  whereas, 
the  ejected  ministers  of  1662,  were  loyal  subjects  of 
the  king;  liad  had  a  considerable  share  in  his  resto- 
ration, and  were  certainly  among  the  most  pious  and 
best  qualified  ministers  in  the  kingdom.  There  was 
another  striking  diiference  in  the  two  cases:  in  the 
ejectment  by  Parliament,  one-/iflh  of  the  income 
of  all  ejected  ministers  was  appropriated  to  the  sup- 
port of  their  wives  and  children;  whereas  in  the  case 
of  those  ministers  cast  out  after  the  restoration,  no 
provision  whatever  was  made  for  the  suffering  fami- 
lies of  the  ejected  ministers;  but  on  the  contrary,  by 
severe  penalties,  they  were  prohibited  from  coming 
within  five  miles  of  any  incorporated  town;  so  that 
their  opportunities  of  making  a  living  by  teaching,  or 
in  any  other  way,  were  exceedingly  circumscribed. 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  143 

Still  we  are  not  disposed  to  deny,  that  it  was  a  hard 
case  to  be  thus  cast  out  on  the  world,  without  the 
means  of  comfortable  subsistence;  and  no  doubt  there 
were  many  cases  of  suffering  which  demand  our  sym- 
patliy.  Civil  dissensions  are  attended  always  with 
deplorable  effects;  and  often  deserving  and  innocent 
persons  are  as  deeply  involved  in  the  disasters  of  such 
wars,  as  the  most  guilty. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Prevalent  Errors  and  Sectaries  during  the  period  of  the  Assembly. 

The  civil  war  in  England  having  been  undertaken, 
partly  on  a  religious  account;  that  is,  to  resist  ecclesi- 
astical tyranny,  and  to  secure  liberty  from  the  domi- 
nation of  a  proud  hierarchy;  many  persons  went  into 
the  Parliament's  army  who  were  truly  religious  men; 
and  many  more  who  were  actuated  by  an  enthusi- 
astic spirit,  and  entertained  views  of  civil  and  eccle- 
siastical society  which  were  exceedingly  visionary. 
Perhaps  there  never  was  an  army  in  which  religious 
feeling,  of  one  kind  or  another,  so  predominated.  Fre- 
quently their  commanding  officers  preached  and  pray- 
ed in  public,  and  the  soldiers  were  deeply  imbued 
with  the  same  spirit,  and  spent  much  of  their  time, 
when  in  quarters,  in  disputing,  or  praying.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  state  of  things,  the  army  became  a 
hot  bed,  in  which  were  generated  and  nourished  the 
wildest  fanaticism,  and  the  most  extravagant  opinions 
on  religion.  But  this  religious  spirit  animated  them 
with  an  invincible  courage,  when  they  thought  they 
were  contending  against  tyranny,  and  fighting  for  re- 
ligion, as  well  as  liberty.  A  full  view  of  the  state  of 
the  Parliament's  army  may  be  found  in  Baxter's 
"Life  and  History  of  his  own  Times."  The  num- 
ber of  sects  which  now  sprung  up,  cannot  easily  be 
enumerated,  as  many  of  them  had  only  an  ephemeral 


144  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

existence,  and  are  only  mentioned  incidentally  by  the 
writers  of  the  times.  The  general  tendency  was  to 
discard  all  regular  authority  in  the  church,  and  to  set 
at  nought  all  religious  ordinances,  as  a  hinderance  to 
the  impulses  of  the  Spirit,  by  which  they  professed  to 
be  favoured.  The  only  sects,  however,  which  now 
arose  in  England,  and  which  having  assumed  a  re- 
gular form,  have  come  down  to  our  times,  are  the 
Quakers  and  Baptists,  which  have  long  since  divested 
themselves  of  those  extravagances  which  character- 
ized their  founders.  Indeed,  the  present  society  of 
Baptists,  grown  to  be  a  numerous  and  respectable 
denomination  of  Christians,  differ  from  Independents 
in  scarcely  any  thing  else,  but  the  denial  of  infant 
baptism,  and  insisting  on  total  immersion  as  the  only 
proper  mode  of  administering  this  ordinance.  From 
the  admonitions  and  precautions  against  Antinomi- 
anism,  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Westminster  As- 
/  sembly,  we  may  infer  that,  in  that  period,  there  ex- 
P  isted  a  strong  tendency  to  this  extreme.  One  of  the 
^  ,fij^t  objects  v/hich  occupied  the  attention  of  this 
y  venerable  body,  was  the  censure  of  certain  Antino- 
mian  writings,  which  had  recently  been  published. 
We  find  in  Neal's  History  of  the  Puritans,  the  follow- 
ing paragraph,  viz: 

"  As  the  Assembly  were  for  strengthening  the  doc- 
/     trines  of  the  church  against  Arminianism,  they  Avere 
>^    equally  solicitous  to  guard  against  the   opposite  ex- 
treme  of  Antinomianism;  for   which  purpose,  they 
'appointed  a  committee  to  peruse  the  writings  of  Dr. 
^    Crisp,   Mr.  Eaton,  and   Mr.  Saltmarsh,  and   others, 
/    who,  having  drawn  out  some  of  their  most  dangerous 
/     positions,  reported  them  to  the  Assembly,  where  they 
'      were  not  only  condemned,  but  confuted,  in  their  pub- 
lic sermons  and  writings." 
^  It  also  appears  from  Dr.  Lightfoot's  journal,  that  of 

f  the  candidates  examined  for  sequestered  livings,  more 
were  found  tainted  with  this  error,  than  with  Armi- 
nianism. The  sectaries,  in  general,  entertained  a 
great  abhorrence  of  the  Westminster  Assembly,  and 
many  pamphlets  were  written  against  them.     And 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


145 


when  the  army,  or  their  officers,  assumed  the  rems 
of  government,  and  liberty  of  prophesying  was  grant- 
ed, the  floods  of  fanatical  error  spread  over  the  land, 
and  threatened  desolation  to  the  church.     But  when 
the  enemy  comes  in  like  a  flood,  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  always  lifts  up  a  standard  against  him.     Many 
able  writers  drew  their  pens  against  the  prevaihng 
errors  of  the  times,  and  soon  the  fury  of  fanaticism 
wasted  itself,  exhausted  by  the  violence  of  its  own 
eff"orts.    Religion  suffered  more  by  the  low  Arminian- 
\  ism  and  lax  principles  of  morals,  which  came  in  with 
i  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  than  by  all  the  ranting 
1  and  extravagance  of  the  sectaries,  during  the  time  of 
ithe  Commonwealth. 

Among  those  who  laboured  with  zeal,  fidelity,  and 
unshaken  courage,  in  opposition  to  the  errors  of  the 
times,  was  the  Rev.  Thomas  Edwards,  who  wrote  an 
answer  to  the  "Apologetic  Narrative  of  the  Inde- 
pendents," and  vindicated  the  Assembly  from  the 
Recusations  of  that  work.  He  also  wrote  a  famous 
work,  entitled,  ''Gangr^na;  or,  A  Catalogue  and 
Discovery  of  many  of  the  Errors,  Heresies, 
Blasphemies,  and  Pernicious  Practices  of  the 
Sectaries  of  this  Time,''  &c.  This  work  has  now 
become  very  scarce,  and  will  probably  be  soon  out  of 
print,  as  the  state  of  the  church  to  which  it  relates, 
has  entirely  passed  away.  But,  it  is  more  than  proba- 
ble, that  in  this  free  country,  the  same  scenes,  with 
some  new  aspects,  will  be  acted  over  again;  or, 
rather,  have  already  been  exhibited  in  many  parts 
of  our  land.  It  is  not,  therefore,  merely  to  gratify  the 
curiosity  of  the  reader,  that  I  extract  a  number  of  par- 
ticularsfrom  his  catalogue  of  errors;  of  which  he  enu- 
merates no  less  than  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  in 
the  first  part  of  his  Gaiigrxna;  to  which,  in  the  second 
part,  he  adds  twenty  or  thirty  more.  In  his  preface, 
he  reduces  the  sectaries  to  the  number  of  sixteen,  as 
follows:  1.  Independents.  2.  Brownists.  3.  Chilian- 
ists,  or  Millenarians.  4.  Antinomians.  5.  Anabap- 
tists. 6.  Arminians.  7.  Libertines.  8.  Familists. 
9.  Enthusiasts.    10.   Seekers,  and  Waiters.   11.  Per- 

10 


146  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

fectists.  12.  Socinians.  13.  Arians.  14.  Anti-trini- 
tarians.  15.  Skeptics  and  Questionists,  who  question 
every  thing  in  matters  of  religion.  16.  Anti-Scrip- 
turists.  The  author  remarks,  that  seldom  will  you 
find  one  of  these  sects  confined  to  a  single  error. 
They  are  strangely  and  confusedly  mixed  up  toge- 
ther. He  says,  that  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find,  in 
some  one  society,  some  of  almost  all  these  opinions, 
such  as  Anabaptists,  Antinomians,  Manifestarians, 
Libertines,  Socinians,  Millenarians,  &c.  &c.;  and  often 
the  same  person  will  be  infected  with  the  errors  of 
many  sects.  The  army,  says  he,  is  frequently  spoken 
of  as  made  up  of  Independents;  but  I  am  of  opinion, 
founded  on  good  information,  that  upon  a  true  muster 
of  the  commanders  and  common  soldiers,  there  would 
not  be  found  above  one  in  six,  of  that  way.  I  do  not 
think  that  there  are  more  than  fifty  pure  Independ- 
ents, but  they  are  higher  flown  and  more  seraphical, 
compounded  of  Anabaptism,  Antinomianism,  Enthu- 
siasm, Arminianism,  Familism,  &c.  All  these  errors, 
and  more  too,  sometimes,  meeting  in  the  same  per- 
sons— "  Strange  monsters,  having  their  heads  of 
Enthusiasm,  their  bodies  of  Antinomianism,  their 
legs  and  feet  of  Anabaptism,  their  thighs  of  Fami- 
lism, their  hands  of  Arminianism,  and  Libertinism  as 
the  great  vein  running  through  the  whole." 

The  following  is  extracted  from  his  catalogue  of 
errors: 

"  1.  That  the  Scriptures  cannot  be  said  to  be  the 
word  of  God. 

"2.  That  the  Scriptures  are  a  mere  human  com- 
position, and  cannot  discover  a  divine  God. 

"  3.  That  the  Scriptures  are  uncertain,  and  no  in- 
fallible foundation  to  build  our  faith  upon. 

"4.  That  all  the  histories,  and  even  the  proper 
names  of  Scripture,  are  all  allegories. 

"  5.  That  the  men  who  wrote  the  Scriptures  were 
moved  by  their  own  spirit,  and  they  were  no  more 
inspired  in  this  than  in  any  thing  else;  for  it  is  in  God 
that  we  live  and  move. 

"6.  We  have  no  concern  with  the  Scriptures  of 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  147 

the  Old  Testament;, and  texts  brought  from  them  are 
no  proof. 

"7.  Right  reason  is  the  rule  of  faith;  and  we  are 
bound  to  believe  no  further  than  we  can  understand, 

"  8.  That  no  Scripture  obliges  any  further  than  our 
spirit  reveals  to  us  that  it  is  the  word  of  God. 

''  9.   That  God  is  the  author  of  all  sin. 

"  10.  That  no  man  is  cast  into  hell,  for  any  sin,  but 
only  because  God  would  have  it  so. 

"11.  That  man's  soul  is  a  part  of  the  divine 
essence;  and  when  he  dies,  it  will  return  to  God 
again. 

"  12.  That  God  loves  the  merest  reptile  as  much 
as  he  does  man. 

"13.  That  God  is  the  *  prince  of  the  air,'  who 
rules  in  the  children  of  disobedience. 

"  14.  That  men,  in  doing  what  God  decreed,  do 
not  sin;  therefore,  he  did  not  decree  all  things. 

"15.  That  God  is  not  displeased  with  any  man; 
for  if  he  were,  and  then  should  be  pleased  again,  he 
would  change. 

"  16.  That  God  did  not  love  one  man,  before  the 
world  was,  more  than  another,  and  that  there  is  no 
such  thing  as  particular  election. 

"  17.  That  the  soul  dies  with  the  body,  and  every 
thing  has  an  end  but  God,  who  remaineth  for  ever. 

"  18.  Every  created  thing  was  a  part  of  God,  and 
shall  return  to  God  again. 

"19.  That  in  the  unity  of  the  Godhead,  there  is 
not  a  trinity  of  persons. 

"20.  That  there  are  not  three  persons,  but  only 
three  offices. 

"21.  That  Jesus  Christ  is  not  very  God,  but  only 
nominally;  not  the  Eternal  Son  of  God  by  eternal 
generation,  ^  but  only  as  he  was  a  man.' 

"22.  That  Christ's  human  nature  is  defiled  with 
original  sin. 

"  23.  That  we  cannot  look  for  much  from  a  Christ 
crucified  at  Jerusalem,  sixteen  hundred  years  ago; 
but  it  must  be  a  Christ  formed  in  us.     The  writer 


148  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

who  expresses  this  opinion,  say^,  ^  Christ  came  into 
the  world  to  live  thirty-two  years,  and  to  do  nothing 
else  that  he  knew;  and,  blessed  be  God,  he  never 
trusted  in  a  crucified  Christ.'  (How  much  like  the 
late  Elias  Hicks.) 

"24.  Christ  was  a  true  man  when  he  created  us; 
yea,  from  eternity,  and  though  he  had  no  flesh,  he 
was  a  very  man  without  flesh. 

^'25.  That  Christ  died  for  all  men  alike:  for  the 
reprobate  as  well  as  the  elect;  and  not  only  suffi- 
ciently, but  eff'ectually;  for  Judas  as  well  as  Peter; 
for  the  damned  in  hell  as  well  as  the  saints  in 
heaven. 

''26.  That  by  Christ's  death,  all  the  sins  of  all  the 
men  in  the  world,  Turks  and  Pagans,  as  well  as 
Christians,  committed  under  the  moral  law  and  first 
covenant,  are  forgiven;  and  this  is  the  everlasting 
gospel. 

''27.  That  Christ  did  only  satisfy  for  sins  against 
the  first  covenant,  but  not  for  sins  against  the  second. 
He  died  not  for  the  unbelief  of  any. 

"  28.  That  Christ  died  only  for  past  sins,  before  the 
gospel  was  revealed. 

"29.  Every  man  must  satisfy  himself  for  sins 
against  the  second  covenant,  namely,  unbelief;  be- 
cause the  wrath  of  God  abides  on  him  that  believes 
not;  so  that  for  a  year's  unbelief,  a  man  bears  a 
year's  wrath;  and  this  is  all  that  God  requires. 

"  30.  That  no  man  shall  go  to  hell  for  any  sin  but 
unbelief 

"31.  That  the  heathen  who  never  heard  the  gos- 
pel by  the  word,  have  the  gospel  revealed  to  them  in 
every  creature;  as  the  sun,  the  moon,  and  stars;  and 
in  them  is  revealed  the  knowledge  of  Christ  crucified, 
and  sin  pardoned,  if  they  had  eyes  to  see  it. 

"  32.  Those  heathen  that  perish,  are  condemned 
for  not  believing  the  gospel  they  efijoy. 

"33.  Christ  by  his  death  did  not  purchase  life  and 
salvation  for  the  elect;  but  Christ  himself  was  pur- 
chased by  love,  &c. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  149 

"  34.  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  declare 
the  love  of  God  to  us;  not  to  procure  it  for  us,  or  to 
satisfy  God. 

"  35.  That  the  unction  which  believers  receive, 
(1  John  ii.  20,)  is  one  with  the  Christhood  of  Christ. 

"36.  That  Christ  was  a  legal  preacher;  for  until 
after  his  ascension,  the  gospel  was  not  preached. 

"  37.  That  Christ  shall  come  and  live  again  upon 
the  earth,  and  for  a  thousand  years  reign  visibly,  as  an 
earthly  monarch,  all  over  the  world,  in  outward  glory 
and  pomp,  putting  down  all  empires  and  kingdoms. 

"  38.  That  during  Christ's  personal  reign,  the  church 
shall  not  only  have  perfect  peace,  and  include  both 
Jews  and  Gentiles,  but  all  that  live  without  sin; 
without  the  word  and  sacraments,  or  any  ordinance 
whatever;  begetting  many  children,  eating  and  drink- 
ing, and  enjoying  all  lawful  pleasures,  which  the 
creatures,  then  redeemed  from  corruption,  can  afford. 

'^  39.  That  men  may  be  saved  without  Christ;  and 
that  the  very  heathen  may  be  saved,  if  they  live 
according  to  the  light  they  have. 

"  40.  That  the  least  truth  is  worth  more  than  Jesus 
Christ  himself. 

^•41.  That  Christ,  by  his  death,  freed  all  men  from 
temporal  death,  (which  is  the  only  punishment  which 
Adam's  sin  deserved,)  to  purchase  for  them  a  resur- 
rection. Thus  far  he  died  for  all,  and  further  for 
none. 

"42.  It  is  a  vain  conceit  to  think  the  Spirit  of  God 
works  within  us;  it  is  only  our  own  spirit. 

"43.  Perfection  is  attainable  in  this  life,  not  by  the 
word,  sacraments,  prayer,  and  ordinances,  but  by  the 
experience  of  the  Spirit  in  a  man's  self. 

"44.  That  a  man  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
knows  all  things,  even  as  God  knows  all  things. 

"  45.  That  if  a  man  by  the  Spirit  knows  himself  to 
be  in  a  state  of  grace,  if  he  commit  murder,  or  adul- 
tery, it  is  no  sin. 

"46.  That  sanctification  is  no  evidence  of  justifica- 
tion; and  all  signs  and  marks  of  a  Christian's  state 
are  illegal  and  unlawful. 


150  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

"47.  Believers  have  no  inherent  sanctification  nor 
habits  of  grace,  but  all  their  sanctification  is  inherent 
in  Christ. 

"48.  Though  Adam  had  not  sinned,  he  had  died  a 
natural  death. 

"49.  The  image  of  God,  in  which  man  was  created, 
was  in  his  countenance;  therefore,  wicked  men  have 
this  image  as  well  as  saints. 

"  50.  Adam  lost  not  the  image  of  God,  but  by  his 
sin  incurred  temporal  death;  which  was  suspended 
for  a  while,  upon  the  promise  of  a  Saviour. 

"51.  There  is  no  original  sin  in  us;  Adam's  sin 
was  the  only  original  sin. 

"52.  That  the  guilt  of  Adam's  sin  is  imputed  to 
no  man;  no  man  is  punished  for  Adam's  sin. 

"53.  That  one  man  is  not  more  spiritual  than 
another;  but  all  the  difference  between  men  is  out- 
ward in  the  word,  which  guides  one  man,  and  not 
another. 

"54.  That  all  men  who  have  the  gospel  preached 
to  them,  are  able  to  believe  of  themselves. 

'^55.  There  is  no  free-will  in  man,  either  to  good 
or  evil;  either  in  his  natural  or  glorified  state. 

^^56.  That  there  is  a  power  in  man  to  resist  grace; 
and  that  the  grace  which  converts  one  man  would 
not  convert  another. 

"57.  Natural  men  may  do  such  things  to  which 
God  has  promised  grace. 

"58.  That  regenerate  men  may  fall  totally  and 
finally  from  a  state  of  grace. 

"  59.  The  moral  law  is  of  no  use  to  believers;  it  is 
no  rule  for  them  to  walk  by,  nor  to  examine  them- 
selves by;  and  Christians  are  freed  from  the  precepts 
as  well  as  the  penalty  of  the  law. 

"  60.  Believers  are  not  justified  by  faith,  but  from 
all  eternity. 

"61.  Neither  faith,  nor  repentance,  nor  humility,  are 
duties  required  of  any  Christian;  or  things  in  which 
they  should  exercise  themselves;  or  they  have  no 
part  in  Christ. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  151 

"  62.  True  faith  is  without  any  doubts  of  our  sal- 
vation. 

"  63.  That  the  act  of  faith,  and  not  the  object  of 
faith,  is  imputed  for  justification. 

"  64.  That  the  doctrine  of  repentance  is  a  soul- 
destroying  doctrine. 

"  65.  Under  the  old  dispensation,  repentance  was 
of  use  to  obtain  remission,  but  not  under  the  gospel. 

"  66.  That  it  is  as  impossible  for  a  child  of  God  to 
sin,  as  for  Christ  himself  to  sin. 

"  67.  That  fast  days,  under  the  gospel,  are  unlawful. 

"  68.  That  God  does  not  chastise  his  people  for 
sin;  let  them  sin  as  much  as  they  will,  it  is  imme- 
diately washed  away. 

"69.  That  believers  need  exercise  no  solicitude 
about  themselves;  Christ  will  do  this  for  them. 

"  70.  That  God  loves  his  children  as  well,  sinning 
or  praying. 

"71.  That  after  conversion,  Christians  should  not 
be  grieved  for  their  sins;  that  what  Peter  did  when 
he  sinned,  was  owing  to  the  weakness  of  his  faith. 

"72.  That  the  children  of  God  are  not  to  ask  for 
the  pardon  of  their  sins;  for  such  to  ask  for  pardon, 
is  infidelity,  and  near  akin  to  blasphemy.  David's 
asking  for  pardon,  was  his  weakness. 

"  73.  That  when  Abram  denied  his  wife,  all  his 
thoughts  and  words  were  holy. 

"  74.  Those  truly  called  of  God,  may  have  sin  in 
the  external  conduct,  but  they  can  have  none  in  the 
spirit.  Guilt  of  conscience  and  the  faith  of  God's 
elect  can  no  more  consort  together  than  light  and 
darkness. 

"75.  That  the  souls  of  believers  after  death  do 
sleep  till  the  day  of  judgment. 

"  76.  That  the  bodies  of  the  saints  shall  not  rise, 
but  they  shall  be  furnished  with  other  bodies  at  the 
resurrection. 

"  77.  That  infants  will  not  rise,  because  they  are 
incapable  of  knowing  and  enjoying  God. 

"  78.  That  none  of  the  saints  go  into  heaven  till 
after  the  resurrection. 


152  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

"  79.  There  shall  be  a  resurrection  of  all  brute 
creatures,  as  well  as  of  men. 

"  80.  There  is  no  hell,  but  in  this  life,  consisting  in 
fear,  remorse,  &c. 

"81.  There  is  now  no  true  church  of  Christ  upon 
earth. 

"  82.  No  man  is  now  condemned  for  rejecting  the 
gospel,  because  it  is  not  confirmed  to  him  by  signs 
and  miracles,  as  in  the  apostles'  days. 

"  83.  God  has  connected  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel indissolubly  with  signs  and  miracles. 

"  84.  That  many  now  have  greater  knowledge 
than  the  apostles,  because  the  church  was  then  in  its 
infancy. 

"85.  That  there  should  be  no  building  of  churches, 
nor  ordinances. 

•^86.  That  baptism  is  not  a  seal  and  sign  of  the 
covenant  of  grace. 

"  87.  That  Paedobaptism  is  unlawful  and  aiiti- 
christian. 

"  88.  That  it  is  as  lawful  to  break  any  of  the  ten 
commandments  as  to  baptize  an  infant. 

"  89.  That  all  disciples  have  a  right  to  baptize. 

"  90.  That  it  is  not  necessary  that  the  baptizer 
should  be  a  baptized  person. 

"91.  That  Christ's  words,  "This  is  my  body," 
should  be  understood  literally. 

"92.  That  all  maintenance  of  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel, is  unlawful. 

"  93.  That  ministers  of  the  gospel  should  work 
with  their  own  hands,  and  not  burden  the  church. 

"  94.  That  there  is  properly  no  distinction  between 
clergy  and  laity. 

"95.  That  to  Christians,  all  days  are  alike;  and 
there  is  no  obligation  to  keep  the  Lord's  day. 

"  96.  That  Saturday,  or  the  Jewish  Sabbath,  ought 
to  be  observed. 

"97.  That  there  should  be  no  ministry;  but  every 
one  should  preach  that  is  moved  to  it. 

"  98.  That  it  is  as  lawful  for  women  to  preach  as 
men. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  153 

"99.  That  they  who  preach  should  not  study  or 
premeditate  what  they  are  to  say. 

"  100.  Some  dozen  women  in  a  certain  town  held 
it  to  be  unlawful  for  them  to  hear  any  man  preach, 
lest  they  should  be  like  those  who  were  *  ever  learn- 
ing, and  never  able  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth.' 

"  101.  That  it  is  unlawful  for  Christians  to  pray, 
even  in  private,  with  those  who  are  not  members  of 
the  church. 

"  102.  That  Christians  should  not  pray  at  set  times, 
but  only  when  moved  to  it  by  the  Spirit. 

"  103.  That  unregenerate  men  should  not  pray  at 
all. 

"  104.  That  all  singing  of  psalms  or  hymns  is 
unlawful. 

"  105.  That  Presbytery  is  the  false  prophet  spoken 
of  in  the  Revelation. 

"  106.  That  there  ought  to  be,  among  Christians, 
a  community  of  goods. 

"  107.  That  parents  should  not  catechise  their  chil- 
dren, nor  teach  them  to  pray. 

"  108.  That  children  are  not  bound  to  obey  ungodly 
parents. 

"  109.  That  all  war,  however  necessary  for  defence, 
is  unlawful. 

''  1 10.  That  the  use  of  forms  of  prayer  is  idolatrous. 

'^111.  That  it  is  inconsistent  with  the  goodness  of 
God,  to  damn  his  own  creatures. 

"112.  That  there  will  be  a  general  restoration, 
when  all  men  shall  be  reconciled  and  saved. 

"113.  That  it  is  not  lawful  for  a  Christian  to  accept 
the  office  of  a  magistrate. 

"  114.  That  a  Directory  for  the  worship  of  God  is  a 
breach  of  the  second  commandment. 

"115.  That  no  man  is  yet  in  hell,  nor  will  be  till  after 
the  judgment;  for  God  does  not  hang  first  and  judge 
after. 

"116.  Eternal  death  was  not  the  penalty  of  the  law, 
but  only  of  the  gospel. '^ 


154 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


From  the  above  catalogue  of  errors,  we  may  see 
that  the  deceitfulness  of  the  human  heart,  and  the 
cunning  and  maUce  of  Satan  are  much  the  same  in 
every  age.  Almost  every  form  of  error  prevalent  in 
our  times,  has  existed  centuries  ago;  in  heresy,  it 
would  be  hard  to  find  any  thing  entirely  new. 

Our  author  next  proceeds  to  give  a  list  of  blasphe- 
mies which  had  been  uttered  by  one  and  another, 
either  in  writing  or  with  the  living  voice ;  but  it  would 
not  be  for  edification  to  repeat  them,  or  in  any  way  to 
perpetuate  their  memory. 

He  also  has  collected  numerous  facts  to  show  the 
impiety  and  extravagance  of  the  sectaries;  and  also 
letters  from  clergymen  and  others,  confirming  the 
facts,  which  he  charged  upon  them. 

This  book  was  animadverted  on  by  John  Goodwin, 
on  a  work,  entitled  "  Cretensis,"  which  gave  occasion 
to  the  writing  the  second  part  of  the  Gangrjena,  in 
which  he  deals  very  sarcastically  and  severely  with 
his  antagonist.  This  John  Goodwin  was  a  very  re- 
markable man,  learned,  acute,  violent  in  temper,  ex- 
ceedingly abusive  in  controversy,  and  a  great  enemy 
to  Calvinism,  and  to  the  Assembly.  He  was  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Red  Dragon  of  Colman  street. 
He  was  often  engaged  in  public  controversy,  and  on 
one  occasion,  challenged  all  the  Presbyterian  minis- 
ters in  the  kingdom,  whether  in  the  Assembly  or  out 
of  the  Assembly,  to  dispute  with  him.  He  is  often 
confounded  with  Dr.  Thomas  Goodwin,  the  learned, 
orthodox,  and  pious  member  of  the  Assembly,  and 
leader  in  that  body  of  the  Independents;  but  it  would 
be  hard  to  find  two  men  more  opposite  in  their  views 
and  characters.  The  one  was  a  thorough-going  Ar- 
minian,  in  every  point;  the  other  a  high-toned  Calvin- 
ist:  the  one  was  a  man  of  an  humble,  meek,  and  con- 
scientious spirit;  the  other  was  a  fierce  and  abusive 
polemic.  It  cannot  be  denied,  however,  that  John 
Goodwin  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  talents.  Per- 
haps his  "  Redemption  Redeemed,"  is  as  able  a  de- 
fence of  the  Arminian  system  as  has  been  published 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  155 

in  the  English  language.  After  being  long  out  of 
print,  it  has  again  been  republished  in  London,  and 
will  be  considered  an  acquisition  by  many. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Presbyterial  Church  Government  carried  into  Effect. 

It  was  found  much  easier  to  pull  down  than  to  build 
up.  The  English  hierarchy  had  been  abolished  by  the 
almost  unanimous  consent  of  both  the  Assembly  and 
the  Parliament,  and  Presbyterian  church  government 
had  been  adopted,  by  a  great  majority,  in  both  these 
bodies;  but  when  it  was  attempted  to  reduce  the  new 
system  to  practice,  numerous  difficulties  and  hin- 
derances  arose  to  retard  the  full  accomplishment  of 
the  object.  For  certain  reasons,  heretofore  explained. 
Parliament  was  reluctant  to  exert  its  authority  to 
carry  into  effect  the  plan  which  it  had  sanctioned. 
Of  this  delay,  great  complaints  were  made  by  the 
Asembly;  and  more  especially,  by  the  London  min- 
isters, who  were  nearly  all  Presbyterians.  But  the 
greatest  obstacle  was  the  provision  annexed  to  their 
ordinance,  establishing  Presbytery  by  Parliament, 
by  which  all  the  ecclesiastical  assemblies,  of  every 
grade,  were  made  subject  to  Parliament,  and  to 
commissioners  appointed  by  them.  Of  this,  an  ac- 
count has  already  been  given.  The  Parliament  ex- 
cused themselves  for  not  acting  with  more  efficiency 
in  this  business,  and  seemed  disposed  to  lay  the 
blame  on  the  tardiness  of  the  Assembly  in  answering 
the  questions  which  they  had  propounded  to  them. 
But  at  length,  on  the  22d  of  April,  1647,  certain  reso- 
lutions were  adopted  by  both  houses,  and  published, 
entitled,  "Remedies  for  Removing  Obstructions  to 
Church  Government."  Letters  also  were  ordered  to 
be  written  by  the  Speakers  of  both  Houses,  and  to 


156 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


be  sent  to  the  several  counties  in  England,  to  divide 
themselves  into  distinct  presbyteries,  or  classes.  Di- 
rections were  also  given  to  the  ministers  and  elders 
of  the  several  presbyteries,  in  tlie  province  of  Lon- 
don, to  hold  their  provincial  assembly  in  the  Convo- 
cation House  of  St.  Paul's,  upon  the  first  Monday  in 
May,  and  to  adjourn  their  meetings,  from  day  to  day, 
and  when  the  business  was  finished,  to  adjourn  the 
body  to  the  next  time  of  meeting.  But  it  was  pro- 
vided, that  no  act  of  the  synod  should  be  valid, 
unless  there  were  present  at  least  thirty-six  members, 
whereof  twelve  should  be  ministers  and  twenty-four 
ruling  elders.  It  was  also  directed,  that  in  the  pres- 
byteries, or  classical  assemblies,  every  question  should 
be  decided  by  the  majority  of  votes;  but  no  act  to  be 
valid  unless  at  least  fifteen  members  were  present,  of 
whom  five  to  be  ministers  and  ten  ruling  elders. 
According  to  the  plan  of  ecclesiastical  polity,  estab- 
lished by  Parliament,  in  all  the  judicatories,  the 
number  of  elders  was  to  be  double  that  of  the 
ministers. 

Instead  of  dioceses,  the  kingdom  of  England  was 
now  divided  into  a  certain  number  of  provinces, 
made  up  of  representatives  from  the  several  classes, 
within  their  respective  boundaries.  Every  parish  had 
a  congregational  or  parochial  presbytery  or  consistory 
(session)  for  the  affairs  of  the  parish.  These  paro- 
chial presbyteries  were  combined  into  classes;  these 
returned  representatives  to  the  provincial  assembly, 
or  synod,  as  the  provincial  did  to  the  national  assem- 
bly. For  example,  the  province  of  London,  being 
composed  of  twelve  classes,  or  presbyteries,  chose 
two  ministers  and  four  ruling  elders,  to  represent 
them  in  a  synod,  or  provincial  assembly;  and  this 
judicatory  received  appeals  from  the  parochial  and 
classical  presbyteries;  in  the  same  manner,  the  na- 
tional assembly  was  a  court  of  appeals  from  the 
decisions  of  all  the  inferior  courts.  The  system  here 
detailed,  difters  from  the  one  in  existence  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  the  United  States,  only  in  one 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


157 


particular;   the   proportion    of    elders    to    ministers; 
which  in  this.,  system  was  double;  but  in  ours,  they,        y 

are  equal.    --^^^J^/"  ^  \"     ;';:/,r.     '-'"'    'C^uM  ''  ' '" 

It  seems  sfea'riceiynecessaTy  to  enlarge  oh  the  sym- 
metry and  equity  of  this  system  of  church  government. 
Undoubtedly,  there  is  in  the  distinguishing  features 
of  this  system,  evidence  of  consummate  wisdom,  con- 
sistency, and  order.  While  the  government  is  calcu- 
lated to  be  energetic,  the  liberties  of  the  people  are 
effectually  secured  by  the  lay  representation;  for 
ruling  elders  may  well  be  considered  as  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people,  in  all  the  judicatories  of  the 
church;  and  in  this  light  they  are  viewed  in  the  sys-. 
tern  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  ruAO* 

Instead  of  having  the  ministers  subjected  to  the  •*'^' '^^ 
will  of  one  man,  often  inferior  to  many  of  them  in 
wisdom  and  piety,  they  all  meet  in  council,  on  terms 
of  perfect  equality;  all  having  received  the  same  -^ 
commission  from  the  Head  of  the  Church.  No  one  ^"^ 
can  claim  an  authority  over  his  brethren,  which 
Christ  expressly  forbade,  except  a  mere  temporary 
presidency,  bestowed  by  themselves,  for  the  sake  of 
order,  in  the  transaction  of  business.  And  instead  of 
a  popular  assembly,  in  which  every  man  takes  a  part, 
and  where  but  few  are  capable  of  deliberating  under- 
standingly ;  as  is  the  practice  of  the  Congregationalists, 
we  have  here  the  gravest  and  wisest  of  the  people 
associated  with  the  ministers;  so  that  there  is  the 
best  conceivable  provision  for  having  every  thing 
transacted  deliberately  and  in  an  orderly  manner, 
and  the  interests  of  all  parties  provided  for.  And, 
as  all  local  societies,  or  single  congregations,  are  sub- 
ject to  fall  under  the  influence  of  party  feelings,  and 
prejudices,  and  under  this  influence  to  judge  partially 
and  unjustly,  it  is  exceedingly  desirable  to  have  the 
opportunity  of  appealing,  or  complaining,  to  higher 
tribunals,  so  constituted  and  situated,  as  to  be  exempt 
from  the  local  influences  which  may  have  given 
obliquity  to  the  judgment  of  inferior  courts.  And  in 
this  system  we  have  a  beautiful  subordination  in 
judicatories,  from  a  national  assembly  down  to  church 


158  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

sessions.  A  case,  improperly  or  unjustly  decided  in  the 
lowest  court,  can  be  carried  up  to  the  presbytery  or 
classical  assembly;  and  if  still,  either  of  the  parties  is 
dissatisfied,  it  can  be  transferred,  by  complaint  or 
appeal,  to  the  provincial  assembly  or  synod;  and 
finally  to  the  highest  tribunal  which  can  with  conve- 
nience be  constituted.  The  theory  of  Presbyterian 
church  government  would  lead  not  merely  to  a  na- 
tional assembly,  but  to  an  oecumenical  council,  where 
the  whole  Catholic  church  should  be  represented;  for 
it  is  founded  on  the  principle  of  the  unity  of  the  whole 
church.  But  as  such  assemblies  would,  in  any  con- 
dition of  the  world,  be  extremely  inconvenient,  and 
in  its  present  state  impossible,  the  system  seems  to 
be  extended  as  far  as  expedient,  when  it  embraces 
all  who  agree  in  any  one  nation.  While  this  system 
guards  against  prelatical  tyranny  and  usurpation  on 
the  one  hand,  and  popular  anarchy  on  the  other, 
it  is  adapted  not  only  to  recognise  and  to  give  visi- 
bility to  the  unity  of  the  church,  but  to  preserve  a 
consistency  and  harmony  in  the  action  of  the  seve- 
ral subordinate  parts,  constituting  the  whole  body. 
For  although  a  perfect  uniformity,  in  all  the  forms  of 
worship,  and  in  all  the  rules  of  discipline,  is  not  to  be 
expected,  nor  attempted,  by  any  coercive  or  authori- 
tative measures,  yet  who  can  deny  that  there  is  a 
peculiar  beauty  in  a  large  society,  consisting  of  thou- 
sands of  constituent  parts,  not  only  existing  in  a  state 
of  exact  subordination  of  the  parts  to  the  whole,  but 
exhibiting  a  delightful  uniformity  in  all  their  re- 
ligious customs,  modes  of  worship,  and  rules  of 
discipline? 

There  may  be  an  approximation  to  this  system  in 
Congregational  churches;  and  which  has  often  been 
found  in  practice,  where  committees  are  appointed 
by  the  people,  to  act  for  them,  in  the  transaction  of 
church  affairs.  But  while  we  think,  that  this  is  not 
consistent  with  the  rigid  principles  of  Congregational- 
ism, yet  we  believe  that  mere  agents  of  the  people, 
selected  from  time  to  time,  will  never  have  the  same 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  159 

influence,  or  possess  the  same  advantage  for  regu- 
lating ecclesiastical  matters,  as  ruling  elders,  believed 
to  have  their  authority  from  Jesus  Christ  himself,  as 
"helps"  to  the  minister;  and  who  are  solemnly  con- 
secrated to  this  office;  and  who  enter  into  sacred 
obligations  to  be  faithful  and  diligent  in  the  perform- 
ance of  its  duties. 

Nothing  has  been  said,  in  the  preceding  remarks, 
respecting  deacons,  because  they  have  no  part  assign- 
ed them  in  the  government  of  the  church.  A  deacon, 
as  such,  cannot  sit  as  a  member,  even  of  the  lowest 
judicatories  of  the  church;  yet  is  the  office  a  perma- 
nent one,  and  of  great  importance  in  certain  states 
of  the  church,  where  the  number  of  poor  saints  is 
multiplied  by  persecution,  famine,  or  any  other  cause. 
And,  as  "  we  always  have  the  poor  with  us,"  and 
ought  "to  do  them  good,"  every  church  should  be 
furnished  with  officers,  or  servants,  to  attend  to  this 
very  thing.  And  accordingly,  the  qualifications  of 
a  deacon,  and  of  his  family  too,  are  as  distinctly 
set  down  in  Scripture,  as  those  of  presbyters  or 
bishops. 

The  plan  of  Presbyterian  government  went  more 
fully  into  effect  in  the  province  of  London,  and  Lan- 
cashire, than  any  where  else;  but  even  here  it  met 
with  many  obstructions,  not  growing  out  of  the  sys- 
tem itself,  but  owing  to  the  increasing  troubles  of  the 
times,  and  especially  to  the  difference  which  arose 
between  the  Parliament  and  the  army.  As  the  latter 
were  unfriendly  to  the  Presbyterian  system,  and  fa- 
vourable to  Independency,  just  in  proportion  as  their 
counsels  prevailed,  the  influence  of  the  Presbyterians 
decreased,  until  at  length,  all  power  was  usurped  by 
one  individual,  who  was  an  Independent  in  principle; 
and  although  he  gave  liberty  of  conscience  professedly, 
except  to  Prelatists  and  Papists,  yet  was  inimical  to 
the  rule  of  Presbytery,  and  had  it  in  his  power  to  par- 
alyse all  the  operations  of  the  new  system. 

But  although  Presbyterianism,  as  the  established 
religion  of  England,  had  but  a  short  continuance,  and 
was  but  partially  carried  into  effect,  yet  it  will  be  grat- 


160  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

ifying  to  the  reader,  to  have  laid  before  him,  the  sys- 
tem, as  it  existed  in  the  province  of  London. 

The  province  of  London  was  divided  into  twelve 
classical  Presbyteries.  The  first  contained  fifteen  par- 
ishes. (The  names  of  the  parishes  are  here  omitted, 
but  may  be  seen  in  Neal.)  The  second,  also  fifteen; 
the  third, twelve;  the  fourth, fourteen;  the  fifth, twelve; 
the  sixth,  thirteen;  the  seventh, nine;  the  eighth,  ten; 
the  ninth, thirteen;  the  tenth,  nine;  the  eleventh,  eight; 
the  twelfth,  eight;  in  all,  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
parishes  in  this  one  province. 

The  first  provincial  assembly,  or  synod,  met  accor- 
ding to  the  appointment  of  Parliament,  and  consisted 
of  three  ministers  and  six  elders  from  each  of  the  pres- 
byteries, making  in  all,  about  one  hundred  and  eight 
members.  Dr.  Gouge  was  chosen  prolocutor,  who 
opened  the  synod  with  a  sermon,  in  his  own  church, 
Black-friars.  Mr.  Manton,  Mr.  Robinson,  and  Mr. 
Cardel,  were  appointed  scribes.  When  the  synod 
was  thus  organized,  a  committee  of  seven  ministers 
and  fourteen  elders  was  appointed,  to  consider  what 
business  required  their  attention.  The  ministers 
selected  fort  his  committee,  were  Messrs.  Whitaker, 
Seaman,  Calamy,  Spurstow,  Tuckney,  Proffit,  and 
Jackson.  (The  names  of  the  elders  are  omitted,  but 
may  be  seen  in  Neal.)  Any  six  of  this  committee 
were  to  be  a  quorum,  provided  two  of  them  were 
ministers,  and  four  ruling  elders. 

At  the  second  session  a  petition  was  sent  to  the  Par- 
liament, requesting  that  they  might  be  permitted  to 
meet  elsewhere,  than  at  the  Convocation  House;  and 
it  was  granted  that  they  might  hold  their  sessions  any 
where,  within  the  precincts  of  London.  They,  there- 
fore, selected  Sion  college,  as  the  place  of  meeting, 
where  they  continued  their  sessions  twice  in  the  week, 
until  the  end  of  the  year  1659. 

While  in  session  at  St.  Paul's,  they  adopted  the  fol- 
lowing rules,  for  their  government,  and  the  regulation 
of  business: 

1.  That  the  Assembly  (synod)  should  meet  on 
every  Monday  and  Thursday. 


WESTMINSTER     ASSEMBLY.  161 

2.  That  the  moderator  should  begin  and  end  every 
meeting  with  prayer. 

3.  When  a  new  moderator  is  to  be  chosen,  the  oldest 
member  shall  preside. 

4.  The  moderator  shall  be  subject  to  the  censure  of 
the  majority  of  the  Assembly,  and  shall  leave  the  chair 
when  his  own  conduct  is  under  consideration. 

5.  Every  speaker  shall  address  the  moderator,  and 
be  uncovered. 

6.  None  shall  speak  more  than  three  times  to  the 
same  question. 

7.  When  any  business  respects  a  member,  he  shall 
withdraw,  if  the  majority  requests  it. 

8.  W^hen  the  Assembly  is  set,  no  member  shall  with- 
draw without  leave. 

9.  The  names  of  the  members  present,  shall  be  re- 
corded by  the  scribes. 

The  second  provincial  Assembly  met  on  the  Sth  of 
November,  1647,  when  Dr.  Seaman  was  chosen  mod- 
erator. This  Assembly  went,  in  a  body,  and  presented 
a  petition  to  Parliament,  on  the  11th  of  January,  1 648, 
in  which  they  prayed, 

1.  That  the  number  of  delegates  to  the  provincial 
Assembly  might  be  enlarged,  as  they  found  it  would 
be  difficult,  at  all  times,  to  make  a  quorum,  which,  by 
the  rule,  required  thirty-six  members. 

2.  That  Parliament  would  hasten  the  formation  of 
those  presbyteries  which  were  not  yet  organized,  of 
which  there  were  four  in  number. 

3.  That  greater  encouragement  should  be  given  to 
a  learned  ministry. 

4.  That  some  more  effectual  provision  should  be 
made  against  clandestine  marriages;  for  the  punish- 
ment of  fornication,  adultery,  and  other  sins  of  impu- 
rity. 

5.  That  church  censures  should  be  so  established, 
that  scandalous  persons  might  be  more  effectually  ex-^ 
eluded  from  church  communion. 

The  Parliament  treated  the  petitioners  respectfully, 
and  promised  to  take  into  consideration,  the  matters 

11 


162  WEST3iINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

presented  to  them  in  the  petition.  But  there  the  busi- 
ness ended,  for  the  sabject  was  never  afterwards  called 
up. 

Beside  their  synod,  or  provincial  Assembly,  the 
London  ministers  had  their  weekly  meeting  at  Sion 
College,  to  consult  about  the  affairs  of  the  church;  in 
one  of  which  they  resolved,  as  they  could  do  no  more, 
to  bear  their  public  testimony  against  the  errors  of  the 
times.  They  accordingly  drew  up  and  })ublished  a 
paper,  entitled,  ''A  Testimony  to  the  truth  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  to  the  Solemn  Le.ague  and  Co- 
venant; AS  ALSO  against  THE  ERRORS,  HERESIES, 
AND  BLASPHEMIES  OF  THESE  TIMES,  AND  THE  TOLERA- 
TION OF  them:  to  which  was  added  a  catalogue  of 
the  errors  referred  to.  This  Testimony  bore  date, 
December  14,  1647,  and  was  signed  by  fifty-eight  of 
the  most  eminent  ministers  in  London,  and  not  long 
afterwards,  sixty-four  ministers  of  Gloucestershire, 
published  their  concurrence.  The  ministers  of  Lan- 
castershire  did  the  same,  where  the  number  of  sub- 
scribers was  eighty-four;  and  in  Devonshire,  eighty- 
three;  and  in  Somerset,  seventy-one — so  that  the 
whole  number  of  nnnisters,  who  joined  in  this  testi- 
mony, was  no  less  than  three  hundred  and  sixty. 

In  the  preface  to  this  Testimony,  they  declared  their 
assent  to  the  Westminster  Assembly's  Confession  of 
Faith,  and  expressed  a  cordial  desire,  that  it  might 
receive  the  sanction  of  authority,  as  the  joint  Confes- 
sion of  the  three  kingdoms,  in  pursuance  of  the  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant.  In  regard  to  heresies,  they  de- 
clared their  abhorrence  and  detestation  of  the  follow- 
ing among  others: 

1.  That  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  not  of  Divine 
authority,  and  the  only  rule  of  faith. 

2.  That  God  hath  a  bodily  shape — that  God  is  the 
name  of  a  person,  and  that  God  is  the  author  of  sin; 
having  a  greater  hand  in  it  than  sinners  themselves. 

3.  That  there  is  not  a  Trinity  of  persons  in  the  God- 
head; that  the  Son  is  not  co-equal  with  the  Father; 
and  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  only  a  ministering  spirit. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  163 

4.  That  God  has  not  elected  some  to  everlasting  life, 
and  reprobated  others;  and  that  no  man  shall  perish 
in  hell  for  Adam's  sin. 

5.  That  Christ  died  for  the  sins  of  all  mankind;  that 
the  benefits  of  his  death  were  intended  for  all,  and  that 
natural  men  may  do  such  things  to  which  God  has 
promised  grace  and  acceptance. 

6.  That  man  hath  a  free  will,  in  himself,  and  power 
to  repent,  to  believe,  to  obey  the  gospel,  and  do  every 
thing  that  God  requires  unto  salvation. 

7.  That  faith  is  not  a  supernatural  grace;  and  that 
faithful  actions  are  the  only  things  by  which  man  is 
justified. 

S.  That  the  moral  law  is  not  the  rule  of  life;  that 
believers  are  as  clean  from  sin  as  Christ  himself,  and 
that  such  have  no  occasion  to  pray  for  pardon  of 
sin;  that  God  sees  no  sin  in  his  people,  nor  does  he 
ever  chastise  them  for  it. 

9.  That  there  is  no  church,  nor  sacraments,  nor  Sab- 
bath, as  is  maintained  by  the  Seekers,  now  called 
Quakers. 

10.  That  the  children  of  believers  ought  not  to  be 
baptized,  nor  baptism  to  be  continued  among  Chris- 
tians; and  that  the  meaning  of  the  third  command- 
ment is,  "thou  shalt  not  forsv/ear  thyself." 

11.  That  persons  of  the  next  kindred  may  marry; 
and  that  indisposition, unfitness,  or  contrariety  of  mind, 
arising  from  natural  causes,  are  a  just  reason  of  di- 
vorce. 

12.  That  the  soul  of  man  is  mortal; — that  it  sleeps 
with  the  body,  and  that  there  is  neither  heaven  nor 
hell  until  the  day  of  judgment. 

13.  The  last  error  against  which  they  testified  was 
that  of  TOLERATION.  "  Patrouiziiig  and  promoting 
all  other  errors  and  blasphemies  whatever,  under  the 
abused  name  of  liberty  of  conscience.  And  here 
they  complain  that  men  should  have  liberty  to  wor- 
ship God  in  that  way  and  manner  which  shall  ap- 
pear to  them  as  most  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God, 
as  a  very  great  grievance;  and  they  consider  it  a 
crying  evil  that  men  should  be  allowed  to  exercise 


164  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

such  liberty  without  being  discountenanced  or  pun- 
ished for  the  same.  They  also  testify  against  the 
opinion,  that  an  enforced  uniforuiity  of  rehgion, 
throughout  a  nation  or  state,  confounds  the  civil  and 
rehgious  powers,  and  denies  the  very  principles  of 
Christianity  and  civil  government. 

From  the  foregoing  testimony  we  have  additional 
evidence  of  the  various  kinds  of  errors  which  pre- 
vailed at  that  period;  and  it  is  humiliating  to  learn, 
that  whatever  progress  religious  liberty  had  made 
among  others,  it  had  made  none  among  Presbyterian 
ministers.  For  here  we  have  no  less  than  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty,  including  a  number  of  the  most  pious 
and  learned  theologians  in  the  country,  who  solemnly 
bore  their  testimony  against  that  religious  freedom 
which  is  now  assumed  by  all,  at  least  in  our  country, 
as  a  self-evident  truth.  That  as  every  man  must 
give  account  of  himself  to  God,  so  every  man  has  an 
inherent  and  unalienable  right  to  worship  and  serve 
God  according  to  the  light  of  his  own  mind,  and  not 
according  to  the  opinions  and  dictates  of  others,  how- 
ever invested  with  authority  in  church  or  state.  But 
a  further  consideration  of  this  sentiment  will,  in  an- 
other place,  receive  our  attention. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Conclusion  of  the  Assembly. 

When  the  Assembly  had  brought  to  a  close  the  im- 
portant work  of  preparing  formularies  of  doctrine 
and  discipline,  and  a  directory  for  public  worship, 
Mr.  Rutherford  moved  that  it  might  be  entered  on 
record  in  the  minutes  of  their  proceedings,  that  the 
Scottish  ministers  had  attended  and  given  their  as- 
sistance during  the  whole  time  they  had  been  discuss 
ing  and  perfecting  these  four  things  mentioned  in 
the  covenant,  namely  "A  Directory  for  Public 


WEST3IINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  165 

WORSHIP — A  Confession  of  Faith — A  Form  of 
Church  Government  and  Discipline,  and  A  Pub- 
lic Catechism;  some  of  their  number  being  present 
daring  the  whole  of  these  transactions.  The  record 
requested  was  accordingly  made,  when  the  Scottish 
commissioners  took  leave  of  the  Assembly.  Before 
they  left  the  House,  Mr.  Herle,  the  prolocutor,  rose 
up,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Assembly,  thanked  the 
honourable  and  reverend  commissioners  for  their  as- 
sistance. In  his  speech,  he  excused,  as  well  as  he 
could,  the  neglect  of  the  observance  of  the  directory, 
and  lamented  the  want  of  power  in  the  Assembly,  to 
call  offenders  to  account.  He  confessed  that  they 
were  very  much  embarrassed,  and  that  they  were 
still  in  a  chaos  of  confusion; — noticed  the  distresses 
of  the  Parliament,  while  the  common  enem.y  were 
high  and  strong,  and  concluded  by  saying  that  their 
extraordinary  successes,  hitherto,  were  owing  to  the 
prayers  of  their  brethren  in  Scotland,  and  other  Pro- 
testants abroad,  as  well  as  their  own. 

The  Scottish  commissioners  went  home  under  a 
heavy  concern  for  the  storm  which  they  foresaw  to 
be  gathering  over  England,  and  for  the  hardships  the 
Presbyterians  lay  under  respecting  their  discipline; 
but  having  succeeded  in  accomplishing  the  important 
work  for  which  their  assistance  had  been  needed  and 
called  for,  and  yet  deeply  sensible  of  their  own  de- 
fects, the  first  thing  which  they  did  after  returning 
home  was  to  hold  a  solemn  fast  to  lament  their  own 
defection  from  the  solemn  league  and  covenant. 

If  the  Parliament  had  dissolved  the  Assembly  at 
this  time,  as  they  ought  to  have  done,  they  had  broke 
up  with  honour  and  reputation;  for  afterwards,  they 
did  little  more  than  examine  candidates  for  the  min- 
istry, and  dispute  about  the  jus  divinum  of  Presby- 
terian church  government.  For  as  soon  as  the  pro- 
vincial synod  of  London  was  established,  all  consul- 
tations respecting  the  public  affairs  of  the  church 
were  transferred  to  this  body,  and  to  the  weekly 
meeting  of  the  London  clergy  at  Sion  college.  From 
this  time,  also,  the  members  of  the  Assembly  were 


166  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

daily  diminished,  for  the  main  business  for  which 
they  had  been  convened,  being  finished,  most  of  the 
coimtry  ministers,  who  had  left  flocks  behind  them, 
returned  home  to  attend  to  their  pastoral  duties,  and 
to  take  care  of  their  families,  and  the  daily  allowance 
was  so  small,  and  so  badly  paid,  that  necessity  com- 
pelled those  who  had  no  resources  of  their  own,  to 
retire.  Those  who  remained  were  principally  such 
as  had  charges  in,  or  about  London,  and  as  was  said, 
their  principal  employment  now  was  the  examina- 
tion of  candidates  for  ordination,  or  for  sequestered 
Uvings.  Thus  they  continued  until  the  22d  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1649,  about  three  weeks  after  the  king's  death. 
The  whole  time  which  they  were  in  session  was  five 

YEARS,  SIX  MONTHS  and  TWENTY-TWO  DAYS.        Duiiug 

which  time,  they  held  one  thousand,  one  hundred, 
and  sixty-three  sessions. 

There  never  was  any  formal  dissohition  of  the 
Assembly  by  act  of  Parliament.  After  the  time  just 
mentioned,  those  members  who  remained,  met  every 
Thursday  to  examine  candidates,  until  the  year  1652, 
at  which  time  Cromwell,  having  assumed  the  reins 
of  government,  and  having  put  an  end  to  the  long 
Parliament,  the  remnants  of  this  venerable  Assembly 
were  of  course  without  authority,  the  body  which 
had  called  them  into  existence  being  defunct.  The 
works  which  they  performed  have  been  already  men- 
tioned. Other  works  have  been  attributed  to  them, 
in  which,  as  an  Assembly,  they  had  no  concern. 
The  "Annotations  on  the  Bible,"  which  are  com- 
monly entitled  "  The  Annotations  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly,"  were  never  submitted  to  them,  nor  in 
any  manner  received  their  sanction.  Some  of  the 
members  of  the  Assembly,  it  is  true,  were  concerned 
in  this  work,  as  they  were  in  many  other  publica- 
tions, for  which  the  Assembly  are  in  no  degree  re- 
sponsible. This  is  not  said  to  disparage  the  work, 
which  is  believed  to  be  valuable,  but  to  state  a  his- 
torical fact  which  ought  to  be  generally  known. 

The  authors  of  this  work,  according  to  Neal,  were 
the  following.     The  annotations  on  the  Pentateuch 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  167 

by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ley,  subdeaii  of  Chester;  those  on 
the  books  of  Kings,  Chronicles,  Ezra,  Neliemiah,  and 
Esther,  by  Dr.  Gouge;  on  the  Psalms,  by  Mr.  Merie 
Casaubon,  and  on  Proverbs  by  Mr.  Francis  Taylor; 
Ecclesiastes,  by  Dr.  Reynolds;  Solomon's  Song,  by 
Mr.  Small  wood;  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  and  Lamenta- 
tions, by  Mr.  Gataker;  Ezekiel,  Daniel,  and  the  Mi- 
nor Prophets,  by  Mr.  Pemberton,  in  the  first  edition; 
bnt  in  the  second,  by  Mr.  Richardson.  The  anno- 
tations on  the  Four  Gospels  were  by  Mr.  Ley,  and 
Paul's  Epistles,  by  Dr.  Featly.  He,  however,  hav- 
ing died  before  the  work  was  completed,  his  notes 
were  left  in  an  imperfect  state. 

Before  closing  this  chapter,  it  may  be  proper  to  give 
some  account  of  the  manner  in  which  the  labours  of 
the  Westminster  Assembly  of  divines  were  appreci- 
ated in  Scotland.  No  sooner  were  the  Confession 
OF  Faith,  Catechisms,  Form  of  Government,  and 
Directory  of  Worship  published,  than  they  were 
unanimously  approved  and  adopted  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  church  of  Scotland;  of  which  these 
formularies  continue  to  be  the  standards  of  doctrine 
and  discipline,  without  alteration,  until  this  day.  And 
although  many  have  seceded  from  the  established 
church  of  Scotland,  yet  all  these  adhere  to  these  stand- 
ards, without  the  least  change  in  any  part  of  them. 
So,  also,  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Ireland  have 
adopted,  as  their  standards,  these  same  formularies. 
All  the  Presbyterian  churches  in  the  United  States, 
Canada,  and  Nova  Scotia,  have  also  received  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms  as  their  creed; 
and  the  Form  of  Government  and  Discipline  prepared 
by  the  Westminster  Assembly,  as  the  rule  for  their 
government,  and  the  regulation  of  their  respective 
churches;  except  that  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States,  as  being  altogether  opposed  to  any 
alliance  between  church  and  state,  and  to  all  religious 
establishments,  altered  those  articles  which  related  to 
the  power  of  the  civil  magistrate  in  matters  of  religion. 

But,  besides,  the  Independent  churches  in  England, 
and  the  Congregational  churches  in  New  England, 


168  WESTMINSTER    ASSE3IBLY. 

have  been  much  in  the  custom  of  using  the  Shorter 
Catechism;  and,  indeed,  although  the  Independents, 
after  the  time  of  the  Westminster  Assembly,  drew  up 
a  Confession  of  their  own,  yet  as  it  contained  the 
same  doctrines  as  the  Westminster  formulas,  it  never 
came  into  common  use  even  in  their  own  churches, 
but  the  Confession  and  Catechisms,  prepared  by  the 
Assembly,  continued  to  be  made  use  of  in  the  instruc- 
tion of  their  people.  And  when  the  Particular  Bap- 
tists drew  up  a  Confession,  they  adopted  that  of  the 
Westminster  Assembly,  with  no  other  alteration  than 
their  peculiar  tenets  respecting  baptism  required. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Character  of  the  Assembly. 

Perhaps  no  synod  or  ecclesiastical  council  has  been 
more  variously  represented,  both  as  it  relates  to  learn- 
ing and  abilities,  and  the  purity  of  their  motives.     On 
account  of  the  opposite  views  given  by  distinguished 
writers.  Judge  Hailes,  in  his  "  Remarks  on  the  His- 
\    tory  of  Scotland,"  expresses  the  opinion,  that  an  im- 
I    partial  history  of  this  famous  Assembly  can  now  be 
I   scarcely  expected.     In  our  view,  however,  the  char- 
acter of  this  venerable  body  of  divines  is  buried  in  no 
obscurity,  and  enveloped  in  no  mist  which  an  impar- 
tial survey  of  their  doings  will  not  at  once  dissipate. 
It  cannot  be  expected,  indeed,  that  royalists  and  high 
churchmen,  especially  such  as  were  involved  in  the 
disputes  of  the  times,  would  give  a  favourable  char- 
acter to  an  assembly  whose  sentiments  were  so  en- 
tirely opposed  to  their  own.     But  in  the  judgment  of 
all  orthodox,  evangelical  theologians,  there  has,  from 
the  first,  been  but  one  opinion;  and  that  is,  that  pro- 
I    bably,  since  the  days  of  the  apostles,  a  more  learned, 
judicious,  and  pious  assembly  of  divines  has  never 
\   been  convened.     A  large  number  of  the  divines  who 
\  were  members  of  that  Assembly,  are  so  eminent  for 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  169 

their  own  learned  works,  or  so  distinguished  as  pro- 
found theologians  and  judicious  casuists,  that  the  best 
eulogy  on  the  Assembly,  would  be  a  succinct  biogra- 
phy of  the  men  who  composed  it,  with  some  account 
of  their  writings.  Such  a  work  has  been  attempted 
by  the  Rev.  Andrew  Reid  of  Ireland,  included  in  two 
volumes.  This  pious  collector  has  used  much  dili- 
gence in  searching  for  materials  for  his  interesting 
work,  and  has  executed  the  task  which  he  under- 
took with  great  fidelity;  and,  in  our  opinion,  Presby- 
terians are  much  indebted  to  him  for  the  service  which 
he  has  performed,  in  rescuing  from  oblivion,  informa- 
tion respectingmany  of  these  divines, concerning  whom 
nothing  was  before  generally  known.  This  work, 
however,  is  rendered  somewhat  tedious,  by  the  fre- 
quent remarks  which  the  author  has  thought  proper 
to  intersperse  through  every  part  of  the.  narrative; 
for  although  his  obervations  are  just,  and  always 
pious,  as  they  interrupt  the  history,  they  are  out  of 
place,  and  give  unnecessary  extension  to  a  work, 
which  for  usefulness  should  be  confined  to  a  moderate 
size.  It  is  our  purpose  to  present  the  reader  with 
the  substance  of  Dr.  Reid's  two  volumes,  in  a  much 
narrower  compass.  Some  of  the  lives  of  the  more 
eminent  men,  however,  we  have  compiled  from  other 
sources  within  our  reach:  indeed,  we  had  already  col- 
lected biographical  sketches  of  several  of  the  eminent 
men  of  this  venerable  Assembly  for  another  purpose, 
before  we  saw  Dr.  Reid's  History. 

As  we  wish  to  be  impartial  in  our  character  of  the 
Westminster  Assembly,  we  hesitate  not  to  lay  before 
the  reader  the  opinions  of  those  writers  who  have 
spoken  most  unfavourably  of  it,  as  well  as  of  its  ad- 
mirers and  friends;  and  especially,  we  have  sought 
the  testimony  of  such  men  as  might  be  expected  to 
be  impartial.  We  do  not  claim  for  them  perfection 
or  infallibility.  They  were  men;  and  were  subject 
to  human  infirmities,  and  were  infected  with  some  of 
the  prejudices  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived,  which 
is  more  or  less  true  of  all  men.  The  chief  blot  which 
rests  on  this  Assembly,  of  which  however  they  par- 


170  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

took,  in  common  with  all  good  men  of  the  ages  pre- 
ceding them,  and  of  all  in  that  age,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  was  an  opposition  to  religious  liberty; 
and  an  unwillingness  to  tolerate  even  those  who  dif- 
>  fered  from  them  in  points,  confessedly  not  essential 
|\  to  piety,  or  to  the  system  of  the  Christian  religion. 
We  know  that  many  of  the  advocates  of  religious 
liberty  run  to  a  dangerous  extreme  of  latitudinari- 
anism;  and  lose  sight  of  the  importance  of  maintaining 
the  truth  and  suppressing  error.  Those  good  men 
did  not  overrate  the  value  of  truth,  and  the  deleterious 
consequences  of  error.  Their  mistake  related  to  the 
proper  and  legitimate  method  of  defending  the  one, 
and  suppressing  the  other.  They  believed  sincerely, 
that  this  was  one  great  duty  incumbent  on  the  civil 
magistrate,  and  were  constantly  urgent  with  the  gov- 
ernment to.put  forth  the  strong  arm  of  power  in  sup- 
port of  the  truth,  and  in  the  extirpation  of  heresy  and 
schism.  Now  if  this  be  the  duty  of  the  civil  magis- 
trate, those  who  dissent  from  the  state-religion,  wheth- 
er it  be  true  or  false,  must  be  persecuted.  In  what- 
ever countries  a  false  religion  is  the  established  reli- 
gion, the  professors  of  the  true  religion  will  of  neces- 
sity be  exposed  to  privations  and  penalties;  to  exile 
or  imprisonment;  or  even  worse,  to  tortures  and  a 
cruel  death.  Now  the  history  of  the  world,  and  the 
Bible  account  of  the  character  of  man,  conspire  to 
teach  that  the  men  of  power  and  authority  in  the 
world,  are  not  likely  to  be  on  the  side  of  truth  and 
piety.  It  has  been  noticed  as  a  just  retribution  of 
divine  Providence,  on  these  orthodox  and  pious 
divines,  that  many  of  them  were  called  to  suffer 
,  X  severe  persecution,  on  the  very  principle  which  they  \\ 
i  )  \laboured  so  hard  to  get  the  Parliament  to  establish.  )  ^ 
\  They  were  not  contented  to  enjoy  liberty  themselves, 
but  they  insisted  that  all  others  should  be  made  to 
conform  to  their  standard,  not  only  as  it  related  to 
doctrine,  but  to  church  government  and  discipline, 
and  modes  of  worship.  Civil  power,  however  stren- 
uously exerted,  can  never  effect  any  other  conformity 
in  religion  than  in  externals;  for  all  the  power  which 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  171 

the  magistrate  can  exert,  can  have  no  tendency  to 
enlighten  or  convince  the  mind  of  any  trnth;  so  that 
even  if  civil  rulers  possessed  infallibihty,  it  would  be 
preposterous  to  endeavour  to  convert  men  to  the  truth 
by  inflicting  pains  and  penalties  upon  them. 

But  there  is  now  no  need  to  argue  this  point  in 
this  land,  where  the  most  perfect  religious  liberty 
exists,  and  all  interference  with  the  consciences  of 
men  guarded  against  by  constitutional  provisions. 
It  is  true,  the  current  of  public  opinion  may  change, 
and  sentiments  and  principles  once  exploded,  may  be 
received  ;  for  we  live  in  a  changing  world ;  but,  at  pre- 
sent, the  tendency  is  rather  to  an  abuse  of  liberty, 
than  to  restrictions  upon  it.  Many  seem  to  misap- 
prehend the  true  principles  of  religious  liberty.  They 
seem  to  suppose,  that  one  set  of  opinions  is  just  as 
good  as  another,  and  that  no  man  should  be  the  less 
esteemed  on  account,  even  of  atheistical  opinions; 
and  that  principle  which  is  correct  in  application  to 
civil  government,  they  are  desirous  to  see  applied  to 
the  church;  fso  that  as  all  errors  are  tolerated  by  the 
state,  they  conclude  that  all  errors  should  be  tolerated 
in  the  church,  not  considering  that  the  civil  govern- 
ment has  no  right  to  interfere  with  men's  conscien- 
tious opinions;  but  the  church  is  founded  on  the  be- 
lief of  the  truth,  and  a  profession  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion is  required  of  every  one  who  enters  the  church. 
If  then,  the  members  of  any  church,  publish  doctrines 
contrary  to  those  contained  in  the  standards  of  the 
church,  they  do  violate  the  fundamental  principle  on 
which  such  a  society  is  built,  and  are  properly  cen- 
sured by  the  rulers  of  the  church;  and  if  they  persist 
in  such  a  course,  they  are  properly  excluded  from  a 
society  to  whose  principles  they  no  longer  adhere. 
But  the  authority  of  the  church,  in  the  utmost  stretch 
of  her  discipline,  goes  no  further  than  to  excommu- 
nication, or  exclusion  from  her  communion:  she  has 
no  right  nor  power  to  inflict  pecuniary  mulcts,  or 
physical  punishments  of  any  kind. 

But  to  return  to  the  character  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly.    It  will  not  now,  by  Presbyterians  at  least, 


172  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

be  deemed  strange  that  Lord  Clarendon,  who  con- 
sidered the  ParUament,  Assembly,  and  all  that  ad- 
hered to  them  in  a  state  of  rebellion,  should  speak 
disrespectfully  of  a  body,  by  whose  advice  the  epis- 
copal hierarchy  was  subverted.  But  let  us  hear  him. 
In  his  history  of  what  he  calls  the  "  Rebellion,"  he 
says:  "  And  now  the  Parliament  showed  what  con- 
sultation they  meant  to  have  with  learned  and  godly 
divines,  and  what  reformation  they  intended  by  ap- 
pointing the  knights  and  burgesses  to  bring  in  the 
names  of  such  divines  for  the  several  counties  as 
they  thought  fit  to  constitute  an  assembly,  for  the 
framing  a  new  model  for  the  government  of  the 
church,  which  was  done  accordingly.  Those  who 
were  true  sons  of  the  ciiurch  not  so  much  as  endeav- 
ouring the  nomination  of  sober  and  learned  men; 
abhorring  such  a  reformation  as  began  with  the  in- 
vasion and  suppression  of  the  church's  rights,  in  a 
synod  as  well  known  as  Magna  Charta.  And  if  any 
well  affected  members,  not  considering  so  much  the 
scandal  and  consequences  of  that  violation,  did  name 
an  orthodox,  and  well  reputed  divine  to  assist  in  that 
Assembly,  it  was  argument  enough  against  him,  that 
he  was  nominated  by  a  person  in  whom  they  had  no 
confidence.  And  they  had  only  reputation  enough 
to  recommend  to  this  consultation  those  who  were 
known  to  desire  the  utter  demolishing  the  whole 
fabric  of  the  church;  so  that  of  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty,  of  which  the  Assembly  was  to  consist, 
though  by  a  recommendation  of  two  or  three  mem- 
bers of  the  Commons  whom  they  were  not  willing  to 
displease,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  lords,  who 
added  a  small  number  to  those  named  by  the  House 
of  Commons,  a  few  very  reverend  and  worthy  men 
were  inserted;  yet  of  the  whole  number,  there  were 
not  above  twenty  who  were  not  declared  and  avow- 
ed enemies  of  the  doctrine  or  discipline  of  the  church 
of  England.  Some  of  them  infamous  in  their  lives 
and  conversations,  and  most  of  them  of  very  mean 
parts  in  learning,  if  not  of  scandalous  ignorance;  and 
of  no  other  reputation  but  of  malice  to  the  church  of 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  173 

England.  So  that  that  convocation  hath  not  pro- 
duced any  thing  which  might  not  then  reasonably 
have  been  expected  of  it.'^^ 

Prejudice,  or  ignorance  of  the  character  of  the  men 
composing  this  venerable  Assembly,  is  manifest  in 
every  line  of  this  short  account,  the  only  notice  taken 
of  this  important  council,  in  the  whole  of  the  history 
of  that  period. 

Milton  also,  who  belonged  to  a  party,  the  very  an- 
tipodes of  that  to  which  lord  Clarendon  was  attach- 
ed, wrote  bitterly  against  the  Assembly  of  divines. 
His  observations  are  contained  in  his  '^  Fragments  of 
a  History  of  England,"  and  are  as  follows: 

"  And  if  the  state  were  in  this  plight,  religion  was 
not  in  a  much  better,  to  reform  which  a  certain  num- 
ber of  divines  were  called,  neither  chosen  by  any 
rule  nor  custom,  ecclesiastical  nor  eminent  for  either 
knowledge  or  piety  above  others  left  out;  only  as 
each  member  of  Parliament,  in  his  private  fancy 
thought  fit,  so  elected  one  by  one.  The  most  of  them 
were  such  as  had  preached  or  cried  down,  with  great 
show  of  zeal,  the  avarice  and  pluralities  of  bishops 
and  prelates;  that  one  cure  of  souls  was  employment 
enough  for  one  spiritual  pastor,  how  able  soever,  if 
not  rather  a  charge  above  human  strength.  Yet  these 
conscientious  men,  (ere  any  part  of  the  work  was 
done  for  which  they  came  together,  and  that  on  the 
public  salary)  wanted  not  boldness  to  the  ignominy 
and  scandal  of  their  pastorlike  profession,  and  espe- 
cially of  their  boasted  reformation — to  seize  into  their 
hands,  or  not  unwillingly  to  accept,  besides  one,  two 
or  more  of  the  best  livings — such  as  collegiate  mas- 
terships in  the  university,  rich  livings  in  the  city; 
setting  sail  to  all  winds  that  might  blow  gain  into 
their  covetous  bosoms.  By  which  means  these  re- 
bukers  of  non-residence,  among  so  many  distant  cures 
were  not  ashamed  to  be  seen  so  quickly  pluralists 
and  non-residents  themselves;  a  fearful  condemna- 
tion, doubtless,  out  of  their  own  mouths.     And  yet 

»  Clarendon's  History  of  the  Rebellion,  Oxford  Ed.,  p.  770. 


174  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

the  main  doctrine  for  which  they  took  such  pay,  and 
insisted  upon  with  more  vehemence  than  the  gospel, 
was  to  tell  us  in  effect,  that  their  doctrine  was  worth 
nothing,  and  the  spiritual  power  of  their  ministry  less 
available  than  bodily  compulsion;  persuading  the 
magistrate  to  use  it  as  a  stronger  means  to  subdue 
and  bring  in  conscience,  than  evangelical  persuasion; 
distrusting  their  own  spiritual  weapons  which  were 
given  them,  if  they  might  be  rightly  called,  with  full 
right  of  sufficiency  to  pull  down  all  imaginations  and 
thoughts  that  exalt  themselves  against  God.  But 
while  they  taught  compulsion,  without  convince- 
ment,  which  long  before  they  complained  of  as  exe- 
cuted unchristianly  against  themselves,  their  contents 
are  clear  to  have  been  no  better  than  antichristian; 
setting  up  a  spiritual  tyranny  by  a  secular  power,  to 
the  advancing  of  their  own  authority  above  the  ma- 
gistrate, whom  they  would  have  made  their  execu- 
tioner, to  punish  church  delinquencies,  whereof  civil 
laws  have  no  cognizance.  And  well  did  their  disci- 
ples manifest  themselves  to  be  no  better  principled 
than  their  teachers;  trusted  with  committeeships  and 
other  gainful  offices  upon  their  commendations  for 
zealous,  (and  as  they  hesitated  not  to  term  them) 
godly  men,  but  executing  their  places  like  children  of 
the  devil,  unfaithfully,  unjustly,  unmercifully,  and 
where  not  corruptly,  stupidly.  So  that  between  the 
teachers,  and  these  the  disciples,  there  hath  not  been 
a  more  ignominious  and  mortal  wound  to  faith,  to 
piety,  to  the  work  of  reformation;  nor  more  cause  of 
blaspheming  given  to  the  enemies  of  God  and  truth, 
since  the  first  preaching  of  the  reformation." 

Undoubtedly,  Milton  attacked  the  Assembly  in 
their  most  vulnerable  points;  the  spirit  of  intolerance 
indulged  by  them,  and  the  readiness  of  the  members 
to  accept  of  places  of  honour  and  profit.  But  it 
should  be  remembered,  that  he  did  not  assail  them 
until  some  of  them  had  denounced  his  work  on  the 
"  Doctrine  and  Discipline  of  Divorce,''  which 
led  to  his  being  brought  before  the  House  of  Lords 
for  that  publication.     Milton,  however,  suffered  no 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  175 

injury  in  consequence  of  this  affair;  but  he  never  for- 
gave the  Presbyterian  clergy  the  offence,  and  re- 
venged himself  on  the  Assembly  by  the  foregoing 
bitter  invective.  And  that  it  was  a  mere  ebullition 
of  violent  resentment,  of  which  his  great  mind  was 
exceedingly  susceptible,  is  evident  from  the  fact,  that 
he  dedicated  the  aforesaid  treatise  on  Divorce,  to  this 
very  Assembly,  in  which  he  addresses  them  as  a 
"Select  Assembly'^ — "Of  so  much  piety  and  wis- 
dom"— "A  learned  and  memorable  synod/' in  which 
"  Piety,  and  learning,  and  prudence  were  housed." 
And  let  it  be  remembered,  that  this  dedication  was 
written  two  years  after  the  Assembly  had  com- 
menced its  sessions,  when  its  character  was  fully 
known. 

That  the  Westminster  Assembly  contained  a  num- 
ber of  divines  as  learned  as  any  in  the  kingdom,  or 
perhaps  in  the  world,  will  be  acknowledged  when  we 
mention  the  names  of  Lighttoot,  Gataker,  Greenhill, 
Arrowsmith,  Twisse,  Reynolds,  Wallis,  Tuckney,  &c., 
&c.  And  among  the  laymen,  Selden  himself  was  a 
host;  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  learned  men  of  the 
age.  But  where  there  were  so  many  eminent  men, 
it  is,  perhaps,  invidious  to  select  individuals.  The 
fairest  method  of  estimating  the  real  character  of  this 
Assembly  will  be  to  examine  lives  and  writings. 

Mr.  Richard  Baxter  may  be  considered  as  a  com- 
petent and  impartial  witness  of  the  character  of  this 
famous  Assembly;  not  only  because  he  was  a  man 
of  a  penetrating  mind,  but  because  he  had  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  many  of  the  members,  and  had 
the  opportunity  of  observing  all  their  proceedings; 
and  was  not  a  man  to  lavish  undeserved  or  indis- 
criminate praise  on  any  set  of  men.  "  They  were," 
says  he,  "men  of  eminent  learning,  godliness,  and 
ministerial  abilities  and  fidelity.  And  being  not  wor- 
thy to  be  one  of  them  myself,  I  may  more  fully  speak 
the  truth,  which  I  know,  even  in  the  face  of  malice 
and  envy.  That  as  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge,  by  the 
information  of  history,  and  by  any  other  evidences, 
the  Christian  world,  since  the  days  of  the  apostles, 


176  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

had  never  a  synod  of  more  excellent  divines,  than  this 
synod,  and  the  synod  of  Dort."  But  impartiality  re- 
quires that  we  set  down  his  censure  as  well  as  his 
praise.  He  goes  on  to  say,  '•  Yet  highly  as  I  honour 
the  men,  I  am  not  of  their  mind  in  every  part  of  the 
government  which  they  have  set  up.  Some  words 
in  their  catechism,  I  wish  had  been  more  clear;  and 
above  all,  I  wish  the  Parliament,  and  their  more 
skilful  hand,  had  done  more  to  heal  our  breaches,  and 
had  hit  upon  the  right  way;  either  to  unite  with  the 
Episcopalians  and  Independents;  or  at  least,  had 
pitched  on  those  terms  that  would. '^ — "  Now  Baxter's 
testimony,"  says  Orme,  an  Independent,  ^'is  much 
more  to  be  depended  on  than  either  Clarendon's  or 
Milton's;  both  of  whom  were  strongly  prejudiced 
against  the  Assembly;  but  for  different  reasons.  Cla- 
rendon hated  Presbyterianism  with  all  the  cordiality 
of  a  cavalier;  and  regarded  it  as  a  religion  unfit  for 
a  gentleman,  and  as  synonomous  with  all  that  is  hypo- 
critical, vulgar,  and  base." — "  Milton,"  says  the  same 
judicious  writer,  <•  hated  it  on  account  of  its  intolerant 
spirit,  and  the  bigotry  of  many  of  its  adherents;  as 
well  as  for  private  reasons.  The  Assembly  in  the 
view  of  both  these  men,  was  the  personification  of  all 
that  should  be  detested  by  enlightened  and  high-born 
men.  They  hated  and  reviled  it  accordingly.  Baxter 
knew  the  members  of  this  Assembly  much  better  than 
either  of  them,  and  was  better  qualified  to  judge  their 
motives  and  appreciate  their  doings.  As  he  was  not 
one  of  them,  he  had  no  temptation  to  speak  in  their 
favour;  and  from  his  well  known  independence  of 
mind,  and  love  of  truth,  had  he  known  any  thing  to 
their  prejudice, he  would  not  have  concealed  it;  espe- 
cially as  their  system  of  doctrine  was  in  many  points 
diverse  from  the  one  which  he  had  adopted,  and  zeal- 
ously advocated  all  his  life." 

Lord  Hailes  has  furnished  us  with  a  curious  ac- 
count of  the  sins  of  the  Assembly,  as  acknowledged 
by  themselves,  with  a  view  to  a  solemn  fast.  This 
account,  the  author  informs  us,  was  extracted  from 
an  unpublished  manuscript  of  Mr.  Gillespie,  one  of 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  177 

the  Scottish  commissioners  to  the  Westminster  Assem- 
bly.    The  enumeration  is  as  follows. 

"1.  Neglecting  attendance  in  the  Assembly,  al- 
though the  affairs  be  so  important — and  late  coming. 

"  2.  Absence  from  the  prayers. 

"  3.  Reading  and  talking  in  time  of  debates. 

"4.  Neglect  of  committees.     (Attendance  upon.) 

'^5.  Some  speak  too  much;  others  too  little. 

"  6.  Indecent  behaviour. 

*^  7.  Unseemly  language;  and  heats  upon  it. 

"8.  Neglect  of  trying  ministers. 

"  9.  Members  of  Assembly  drawing  on  parties;  or 
being  frightened  with  needless  jealousies." 

Very  nearly  the  same  faults  are  set  down  in  Dr. 
Lightfoot's  journal. 

From  the  foregoing  list  of  delinquencies,  which  all 
relate  to  their  conduct  as  members,  we  may  learn, 
that  human  nature  is  much  the  same  in  all  ages;  and 
that  great  and  good  men  have  their  foibles;  and  that 
when  the  transaction  of  any  business  devolves  upon 
many,  the  individuals  are  in  danger  of  losing  the  habi- 
tual sense  of  their  own  responsibility,  for  doing  it  in 
a  proper  manner.  It  will,  perhaps,  occasion  a  smile 
in  the  reader,  when  he  is  informed  that  this  venerable 
Assembly  found  it  necessary  to  inflict  a  fine  of  a  shil- 
ling for  absence  from  any  session,  and  six-pence  for 
tardiness.     (See  Lightfoot.) 

It  is  well  when  men  are  made  sensible  of  their 
faults  and  are  willing  to  confess  them  to  one  another, 
and  humble  themselves  before  God  with  fasting  on 
account  of  them.  We  often  find  this  Assembly  en- 
gaging in  the  self-denying  duty  of  fasting;  and  once 
a  month  regularly,  they  united  with  the  Parliament 
in  observing  a  solemn  fast.  On  these  occasions,  nearly 
the  whole  day  was  spent  in  the  public  exercises  of 
religion.  It  is  noted  by  Baillie,  that  on  these  solemn 
occasions,  one  minister  would  sometimes  pray,  with- 
out ceasing,  for  two  whole  hours.  The  godly  men 
of  that  day  seem  to  have  been  mighty  in  prayer,  and 
to  have  known  what  it  was  to  pray  whhoui  faint mg. 
Their  preaching  too,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  from. 

12 


178  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

the  specimens  which  have  come  down  to  us,  was 
solemn,  searching,  evangelical,  pungent,  and  power- 
ful. Mr.  Baillie  incidentally  observes,  in  one  of  his 
letters,  that  "Mr.  Marshall  was  reckoned  to  be  the 
best  preacher,  and  Mr.  Palmer  the  best  catechist,  in 
England.'^  Most  of  the  sermons  preached  before  the 
Parliament,  on  these  fast  days,  were  ordered  to  be 
printed,  but  it  is  probable  that  few  of  them  have  es- 
caped the  corroding  tooth  of  time. 

But  after  all,  the  Westminster  Assembly  needs  no 
other  encomium,  than  the  works  which  they  prepa- 
red for  the  instruction  and  edification  of  the  church. 
Their  Confession  of  Faith  is  full, sound,  and  systematic. 
It  has  stood  the  test  of  the  most  rigid  scrutiny;  and 
yet  no  alteration  has  been  found  necessary  in  a 
single  article  which  has  relation  to  doctrine.  In  this 
country,  where  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  by  the  universal  consent  of  all  denomi- 
nations, the  civil  magistrate  has  nothing  to  do  in  re- 
gulating religion,  a  change  has  been  made  in  what 
relates  to  the  power  of  the  civil  magistrate.  Certain 
men,  of  late,  have  talked  much  of  improvements  made 
in  theology;  but  where  are  they  ?  Our  "new  divinity" 
turns  out  to  be  nothing  more  than  a  revival  of  old,  ex- 
ploded errors.  Half-learned  theologians  are  very  apt 
to  boast  of  having  struck  out  new  light,  when  the 
same  opinions  had  been  vented,  discussed,  and  refuted, 
long  before  they  were  born.  As  far  as  we  have  ob- 
served, every  attempt  to  improve  on  the  system  here 
so  clearly  laid  down,  and  deduced  from  Scripture,  has 
been  an  utter  failure.  Not  that  the  Westminster 
divines  discovered  these  doctrines:  they  never  pre- 
tended to  have  found  out  any  thing  new.  They 
aimed  to  teach  simply  and  plainly,  what  had  been 
received  from  the  beginning.  Their  greatest  abhor- 
rence was  of  innovations  in  religion.  It  has  often 
been  alleged,  that  Presbyterians  put  their  Confession 
of  Faith  in  the  place  of  the  Bible,  or  at  least  on  a  level 
with  it.  Nothing  can  be  more  false.  They  value  this 
formula  only  as  believing  it  to  exhibit  the  prominent 
truths  of  the  Bible.     They  never  consider  it  as  teach- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  ]  79 

ing  any  thing  different  from  what  the  Holy  Scriptures 
contain;  nor  as  adding  any  thing  to  the  system  of 
truth  taught  in  the  Sacred  Vohime.  It  is,  therefore, 
never  contrasted  with  the  Bible,  but  is  the  substance 
of  the  Bible,  arranged  in  a  systematic  and  convenient 
form.  And  this  reproach  is  proved  to  be  without 
foundation,  by  the  fact,  that  those  persons  who  are 
most  familiar  with  our  Confession  and  Catechisms,  are 
the  very  persons  v/ho  feel  the  profoundest  reverence 
for  the  volume  of  inspiration,  and  yield  to  its  doc- 
trines the  most  implicit  credence,  and  to  its  precepts 
the  most  unreserved  obedience. 

Although  this  system  of  doctrine  is  repulsive  to  the 
pride  of  man,  and  which  carnal  reason  does  not  rea- 
dily receive;  and  although,  sometimes,  the  oppugners 
of  it  please  themselves  with  the  thought,  that  Calvin- 
ism will  soon  be  banished  from  the  world;  yet  when- 
ever true  religion  is  received,  and  men  are  led  seri- 
ously to  study  the  word  of  God,  they  almost  invari- 
ably adopt  this  system,  for  two  reasons:  first,  because 
they  cannot  but  see,  that  these  doctrines  are  plainly 
taught  in  the  Scriptures;  and  secondly,  because  their 
own  experience  leads  them  to  the  same  conclusions. 
Even  plain  Christians,  who  have  been  instructed  in 
another  theory,  yet  entertain  a  practical  belief  in  ac-  \ 
cordance  with  the  doctrines  of  grace,  and  their  prayers  J  \ 
are  almost  sure  to  recognise  the  truth  of  the  Calvin-  j  5 
istic  system. 

The  formularies  prepared  by  the  Westminster  As- 
sembly have  stood  the  test  of  two  centuries,  and  are 
received  as  standards  of  doctrine  and  discipline  by  all  j 
Presbyterians  in  the  world,  who  speak  the  English  ; 
language.  Some  good  and  orthodox  men  have  wished 
to  have  some  expressions  changed,  or  some  explana- 
tion added,  to  prevent  misconstruction;  but  as  this 
could  not  be  done  with  the  consent  of  all  who  have 
adopted  this  Confession  as  the  confession  of  their 
faith,  and  as  it  is  not  pretended  that  the  parts  objected 
to  are  really  erroneous  in  doctrine,  it  is  earnestly  to 
be  wished  and* hoped  that  no  attempt  will  be  made 
to  add  to,  take  from,  or  in  any  way  to  alter  these 


180  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

venerable  standards.  Every  sound  Calvinist  will 
find  no  difficulty  in  subscribing  the  Confession  as  it 
stands;  and  those  who  do  not  adopt  the  Calvinistic 
system  of  theology,  should  never  be  guilty  of  the  dis- 
honesty of  subscribing  a  creed,  which  is  not  a  fair 
exhibition  of  their  own  belief.  The  principles  on 
which  this  and  other  articles  of  religion  have  fre- 
quently been  subscribed,  are  humiliating  to  think  of: 
such  disingenuity  is  utterly  unworthy  of  ministers  of 
the  gospel,  who  are  by  profession  preachers  of  the 
truth,  and  whose  conduct  should  be  characterized  by 
an  unwavering  and  strict  regard  to  truth,  in  all  their 
declarations  and  promises.  Yet  we  now  frequently 
have  exhibited  to  us  the  example  of  men  solemnly 
adopting  this  Confession,  at  their  licensure  and  ordi- 
nation, and  then  preaching  and  writing  against  some 
of  the  doctrines  which  it  contains.  The  attempts 
which  have  been  made  to  reconcile  this  conduct  with 
common  honesty,  not  to  say  Christian  sincerity,  must 
be  pronounced  to  be  Jesuitical,  and  belong  to  a  school 
of  morals  very  different  from  that  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. But  what  if  a  man,  after  having  adopted 
these  standards,  should,  in  the  progress  of  investiga- 
tion, change  his  mind,  is  not  the  obligation  to  receive 
and  profess  the  truth,  superior  to  that  arising  from 
any  subscription  to  a  creed,  which  he  made  in  the 
time  of  his  ignorance?  Undoubtedly  it  is;  and  no 
man  whose  moral  feelings  are  right,  will  be  restrain- 
ed from  an  impartial  investigation  and  judgment  of 
\  truth,  according  to  new  evidence  which  may  be  pre- 
y  sented  to  his  mind.  The  obligation  to  embrace  the 
}  truth,  when  perceived,  is  paramount  to  all  other  obli- 
gations. No  man  has  a  right  to  bind  himself  never 
to  believe  otherwise  than  he  now  does;  and  all  such 
obligations,  however  formally  or  solemnly  made,  are 
null  and  void;  for  as  soon  as  any  man  finds  himself 
to  be  in  error,  he  is  bound  to  renounce  it.  These 
positions  are  so  nearly  self-evident,  that  there  seems 
to  be  no  need  of  argument  to  support  them.  Thus 
far,  it  may  be  presumed,  that  all  will  agree.  What, 
then,  is  the  duty  of  the  conscientious  lover  of  truth, 


I 

1 


'^  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  181 

when  he  is  constrained  to  believe  that  the  creed 
which  he  has  received  is  erroneous?  The  path  of 
duty,  in  this  case,  is  perfectly  plain.  Let  him  re- 
nounce what  he  believes  to  be  an  error,  as  publicly  as 
he  adopted  it,  and  withdraw  from  the  society  which 
maintains  it,  if  it  be  a  point  of  real  importance.  Men 
are  never  to  be  censured  for  professing  what  they  be- 
lieve, and  acting  accordingly,  although  they  may  be 
much  to  blame  for  adopting  the  opinions  which  they 
have  received.  But  the  conduct  which  we  are  now 
censuring  is  that  of  those  who,  while  they  disbelieve 
certain  articles  in  the  creed  of  a  church,  still  continue 
in  her  connexion,  and  make  use  of  the  office,  power, 
and  influence  which  he  has  conferred  upon  them, 
in  attempting  to  subvert  her  system.  If,  indeed,  a. 
theologian  should  be  of  opinion  that  he"Ti"as  discov- 
ered some  considerable  error  in  the  standards  of  his 
church,  he  may  propose  his  new  views  to  the  con- 
sideration of  those  who  govern  the  society,  that  they 
may  have  the  opportunity  of  changing  their  creed,  in 
conformity  with  the  new  Hght  which  he  is  able  to 
give  them.  But  as  there  is  seldom  any  prospect  of  j 
producing  a  change  of  opinion  in  a  whole  church  by  [ 
an  individual,  the  path  of  duty  is,  commonly,  for  the  I 
person  quietly  to  withdraw ;  and  then  he  may  con-  I 
sistently  attempt  to  refute  the  errors  of  the  body  to  I 
.which  he  has  recently  belonged.  « 

^  "We  never  appeal  to  these  standards  as  the  ultimate 
authority  for  our  faith.  We  exhort  all  to  compare 
these  doctrines  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  only  to 
receive  what  they  find  confirmed  by  the  "  oracles  of 
God."  "If  they  speak  not  according  to  these,  it  is 
because  there  is  no  light  in  them.'^  Our  last  appeal 
is  always  "  to  the  Law  and  to  the  Testimony."  But 
it  aff*ords  a  strong  confirmation  of  these  doctrines, 
that  so  many  pious  and  learned  men,  in  so  many  dif- 
ferent countries,  have  embraced  them  as  the  doc- 
trines clearly  taught  in  Scripture.  It  is  pleasing  to 
observe  the  exact  agreement  in  all  the  creeds  of  the 
Reformed  churches,  all  over  the  world.  Their  doc- 
trines were  so  much  the  same,  that  any  one  of  them 


C 


182  WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 

might  have  adopted  the  "Confession"  of  any  other 
as  its  own,  without  perceiving  the  least  discrepancy/. 
And  how  can  this  uniformity  be  accounted  for? 
Error  has  no  such  evidence  as  to  recommend  it  to  so 
great  a  muhitude  of  honest  inquirers.  The  reason  is 
obvious.  These  doctrines  are  clearly  and  promi- 
nently exhibited  in  Scripture.  They  are  so  plain  that 
an  intelligent  mind  cannot  miss  them;  unless  the  in- 
tellect is  obscured  by  a  mist  of  prejudice,  and  the 
judgment  already  warped  by  the  reception  of  error. 
But  let  the  mind  be  free  from  prejudice,  and  honest 
in  the  pursuit  of  truth,  and  we  are  not  afraid  that 
there  will  be  found  any  material  deviation  from  those 
doctrines,  which  are  so  lucidly  exhibited  in  the  West- 
minster Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechism. 

While  we  are  desirous  of  rescuing  the  character 
of  this  venerable  Assembly  from  the  unjust  asper- 
sions which  calumny  has  heaped  upon  them,  and  to 
exhibit  them  in  their  true  character,  as  a  convention 
of  eminently  learned  and  godly  ministers;  many  of 
whom  have  enriched  the  Christian  church  with  their 
own  valuable  writings;  yet  our  firm  adherence  to 
the  doctrines  which  they  taught,  does  not,  in  any 
measure,  depend  upon  a  knowledge  of  their  abilities 
or  piety.  But  we  receive  this  system  of  divinity,  be- 
cause we  see  it  strongly  supported  by  the  repeated 
and  unequivocal  declarations  of  the  inspired  writers. 
Many,  even  of  those  who  are  teachers  in  our  churches, 
know  little  or  nothing  of  the  history  of  this  venerable 
Assembly:  and  yet  their  faith  in  these  doctrines  is 
unwavering,  because  they  accord  with  Scripture,  and 
their  own  experience.  It  has  been  our  earnest  wish, 
however,  that  Presbyterians  should  become  better 
acquainted  with  the  origin  of  their  own  formularies, 
and  wuh  the  history  of  the  men  who  were  honoured 
of  God  to  compose  them  for  the  edification  of  so 
many  millions.  And  having  now  completed  our 
work,  we  commit  it  to  God,  and  to  the  favourable 
notice  of  liis  people. 


PART    II. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


OF   THE 


WESTMINSTER    DIVINES 


PREFACE 


There  is  an  increasing  desire,  in  our  church,  to  know 
something  of  the  men  who  formed  the  Assembly  of 
Divines,  convened  at  Westminster,  in  the  year  1643. 
As  our  Confession  of  Faith,  and  Catechisms,  which 
are  the  standards  of  doctrine  in  our  Church,  were  com- 
posed by  this  Assembly,  the  desire  before  mentioned, 
is  natural  and  laudable;  and  to  furnish,  in  some 
measure,  the  means  of  its  gratification,  the  following 
biographical  notices  have  been  collected.  The  authors 
from  whom  they  have  been  derived,  are  Calamy, 
Neal,  Brooks,  Wilson,  Reid,  Smith,  &c.  The  writer 
had,  for  another  purpose,  collected  a  number  of  bio- 
graphical sketches,  of  eminent  theologians,  among 
whom  were  several  members  of  this  venerable  As- 
sembly; but  by  the  kindness  of  a  friend,  he  after- 
wards obtained  the  use  of  the  work  of  James  Reid, 
entitled,  "  Memoirs  of  the  Lives  and  Writings  o 
those  Eminent  Divines^  who  convened  in  the  famous 
Jissemhly,  at  Westminster,  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury P  This  work  contains  some  account  of  almost 
all  the  members  of  the  Westminster  Assembly;  and 
the  author  deserves  much  credit  for  the  pains  which 
he  has  taken,  in  making  this  compilation.  The  author 
of  the  present  work  has  drawn  his  materials  from  the 
sources  referred  to  above,  with  very  little  alteration  of 


186 


PREFACE. 


the  style  of  the  original  memoirs;  but  in  some  cases, 
his  work  maj^  be  considered  original,  as  he  laborious- 
ly searched  for  some  memorials  of  those  members,  of 
whom  no  biographical  memoir  has  been  published. 
The  principal  objection  to  the  re-publication  of  this 
work,  in  connexion  with  our  history  of  the  Westmin- 
ster Assembly,  is,  its  bulk,  being  contained  in  two  con- 
siderable volumes;  and  the  one  half  of  this  bulk,  is 
entirely  unnecessary  for  our  purpose;  as  consisting  of 
pious  reflections  on  the  incidents  recorded;  and  minute 
and  uninteresting  circumstances,  which  can  well  be 
dispensed  with,  in  a  work  intended  for  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  in  America.  As  far  as  the  work  of  Reid 
has  been  used,  therefore,  the  memoirs  have  been  much 
abridged;  but  in  a  number  of  cases,  where  there  is  an 
agreement  in  language,  with  this  author,  our  memoir 
was  written  before  his  work  came  to  hand,  and  the  co- 
incidence is  to  be  accounted  for,  by  the  fact,  that  we 
drew  our  materials  from  the  same  source.  The  same 
similarity  is  observable,  between  the  "  Memoirs,"  by 
Reid,  and  those  by  Thomas  Smith,  entitled,  "  Select 
Memoirs,  4'C.,  of  English  and  Scottish  Divines,^^ 
published  in  Glasgow,  in  1829.  The  compiler  of  this 
volume  lays  claim  to  no  original  research,  or  compo- 
sition: he  has  merely  taken  such  memoirs  as  he  could 
find;  generally  abridging  them  to  less  than  one  half 
their  original  bulk;  but  omitting  nothing  which  ap- 
peared important  to  a  tair  exhibition  of  the  persons, 
of  whom  a  notice  has  been  given.  In  looking  over 
Reid's  "  Memoirs"  of  the  members  of  the  Westmin- 
ster Assembly,  it  was  observed,  that  some  names  had 
been  entirely  omitted,  and  that  too,  of  persons  of  con- 
siderable distinction.  These  have  been  supplied,  as 
far  as  it  could  be  done,  with  the  materials  in  our  pos- 


PREFACE. 


187 


session ;  and  as  no  notice  is  taken  by  him,  of  any  of 
the  laymen,  who  were  members  of  that  Assembly,  a 
brief  memoir,  therefore,  of  each  of  those  eminent  men, 
John  Seidell,  and  Matthew  Hale,  has  been  appended. 
To  these  it  was  wished  to  add  that  of  Francis  Rouse, 
Esq.,  a  member  of  Parliament,  and  of  the  Assembly, 
and  much  distinguished,  in  his  day,  as  the  friend  and 
patron  of  evangelical  ministers,  and  a  man  of  great 
influence  in  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical  matters.  But 
no  memoir  of  this  excellent  person  has  been  found. 
He  will  have  his  memory,  therefore,  perpetuated, 
chiefly,  by  his  version  of  the  Psalms,  adopted  by  the 
Westminster  Assembly,  and,  after  careful  revision,  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland. 

In  proportioning  the  length  allowed  to  these  me- 
moirs respectively,  the  compiler  was  governed  by  two 
considerations;  the  importance  of  the  person,  and  the 
access  to  materials,  from  which  a  biographical  sketch 
could  be  made  out.  Of  some  of  the  members  of  this 
venerable  Assembly,  who  were  in  their  day,  distin- 
guished for  learning,  piety,  and  eloquence,  very  few 
memorials  have  been  preserved;  while  of  others,  not 
more  distinguished,  we  have,  in  print,  extended  bio- 
graphies. The  lives  of  some  eminently  pious  and  pro- 
foundly learned  men,  run  on  in  a  tenor  so  even  and 
uniform,  that  they  furnish  no  incidents  for  biography; 
while,  in  regard  to  others,  many  vicissitudes  and  in- 
teresting occurrences  so  chequer  their  course  tlu'ough 
life,  that  they  furnish  large  materials  for  the  biogra- 
pher. 

As  the  object  of  this  compilation  is,  not  only  to 
give  a  sketch  of  the  lives  of  these  eminent  divines, 
but  also,  as  far  as  it  could  be  done,  a  complete  list  of 


188  PREFACE. 

their  publications,  a  larger  space  has  been  commonly 
allowed  to  authors  of  valuable  and  voluminous  works, 
than  to  others.  The  lists  of  the  writings  of  the  divines 
of  this  Assembly,  will,  we  think,  be  gratifying  and 
useful  to  the  young  theologian;  and  will  enable  such 
persons  as  are  curious  to  learn  the  theological  opinions 
of  these  divines,  as  recorded  in  their  own  writings,  to 
gratify  their  curiosity.  And  in  looking  over  these 
memoirs,  the  reader  will  be  surprised  to  find  how 
many  of  them  were  authors;  and  also  how  many 
learned  and  pious  works  are  still  extant,  and  in  de- 
mand, which  were  written  by  the  members  of  this 
Assembly.  The  information  contained  in  the  two 
parts  of  this  history,  would,  at  any  period  of  his  life, 
have  been  very  acceptable  to  the  compiler;  and  he 
is  therefore  ready  to  conclude,  that  there  are  many 
others  who  will  be  gratified  to  have  these  scattered 
materials  collected  into  one  view;  so  that  the  infor- 
mation which  they  desire,  respecting  the  Westmin- 
ster Assembly,  may  now  be  had,  in  a  single  volume, 
of  moderate  price. 

That  the  work  may  be  useful  in  promoting  the  best 
interests  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  these  United 
States,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  the  author. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  BIOGRAPHY. 


Arrowsmitii,  D.  D.,  John,  was  born  near  New-cas- 
tle-iipon-Tyne,  in  the  county  of  Northumberland,  in 
England,  March  29,   1602.     It  has  been  remarked 
as  a  coincidence  worth  noting,  that  he  was  born  in 
the  same  year,  and  on  the  same  day,  and  probably 
in  the  same  hour,  as  Dr.  John  Lightfoot.     His  early 
history  is  unknown;  but  he  must  have  been   well 
educated,  as  he  was  a  distinguished  scholar.    He  was 
first  settled  as  a  pastor  in  Lynn,  in  Norfolk  county, 
whence   he  was  called   to   sit   in    the  Westminster 
Assembly,  where  he  was  eminently  useful.     Princi- 
pal Baillie,  in  giving  an  account  of  the  transactions 
of  this  venerable  Assembly,  speaks  of  Mr.  Arrow- 
smith  thus:  '^Our  letter  to  foreign  churches,  formed 
by  Mr.  Marshall,  except  some  sentences  put  in  by 
Mr.  Henderson,  has  been  turned  into  Latin,  by  Mr. 
Arrowsmith,  a  man  with  a  glass  eye,  in  place  of  that 
which  was  put  out  by  an  arrow;  a  learned  divine, 
on  whom  the  Assembly  put  the  writing  against  the 
Antinomians.^^ 

The  Earl  of  Manchester  having  been  appointed 
to  reform  abuses  in  the  Universities,  displaced,  at 
Cambridge,  five  heads  of  Colleges,  and  selected  five 
members  of  the  Assembly  to  fill  their  places.  These 
were,  Mr.  Palmer,  Mr.  Vines,  Mr.  Seaman,  Mr. 
Young,  and  Mr.  Arrowsmith.  This  appointment 
was  unanimously  confirmed  by  the  Parliament.  Mr. 
Arrowsmith,  after  undergoing  an  examination  before 
the  Assembly  of  Divines,  and  being  approved,  was 
constituted  Master  of  St.  John's  College,  in  the  year 
1644.  Being  placed  in  this  high  and  responsible  sta- 
tion, as  the  head  of  a  Seminary,  where  young  men 


190  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES, 

were  trained  for  tlie  ministry,  he  set  himself  vigorous- 
ly and  vigilantly  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
office;  and  to  qualify  himself  for  his  work,  he  applied 
himself  incessantly  to  study.  His  great  object,  while 
in  this  office,  was  to  promote  in  the  college,  genuine 
piety  in  union  with  solid  learning.  To  this  end  all 
his  lectures  tended;  and  he  caused  the  Lord's  day  to 
be  observed  with  an  exactness  unknown  there  before. 
While  in  this  situation,  he  commenced  writing  an 
elaborate  work,  of  the  nature  of  a  body  of  divinity. 
It  was  entitled,  "  A  Chain  of  Principles,"  in  thirty 
distinct  "aphorisms,"  which  he  intended  to  illustrate 
by  exercitations,  under  each;  but  sickness  and  death 
interposed,  so  tliat  no  more  than  six  out  of  the  thirty 
were  ever  finished.  These  have  been  published,  and 
give  occasion  for  regret  that  the  whole  was  not  com- 
pleted. 

After  some  time,  Mr.  Arrowsmith  was  advanced 
to  be  Master  of  Trinity  College,  which  is  reckoned 
the  best  preferment  in  the  University.  It  has  been 
recorded  as  a  remarkable  fact,  that  these  high  prefer- 
ments had  no  effect  in  diminishing  the  spirituality  of 
this  eminent  professor;  but  as  he  grew  daily  in  know- 
ledge, so  he  grew  in  grace.  He  was  a  very  powerful 
and  useful  preacher  of  the  gospel:  one  instance  of  his 
success  has  been  recorded.  A  young  man  by  the 
name  of  Mack,  who  had  spent  his  youth  in  vanity 
and  sin,  came  to  Cambridge,  where  so  great  a  change 
was  wrought  in  him,  by  the  preaching  of  Dr.  Hill, 
and  Dr.  Arrowsmith,  that  it  became  a  matter  of 
observation  to  all  around,  and  was  manifest  in  the 
altered  style  of  his  epistles  to  his  friends.  By  these, 
it  was  believed,  that  three  sisters  and  both  his  parents 
were  brought  to  the  saving  knowledge  of  the  truth. 

As  a  professor  of  theology,  Dr.  Arrowsmith  also 
excelled.  His  method  of  instruction  was  clear,  and 
at  the  same  time  profound;  so  that  he  acquired  a  dis- 
tinguished reputation  in  the  University,  for  his  learn- 
ing, his  wit,  and  his  amiable  manners;  and  that 
which  gave  value  to  all  his  abilities  was,  that  they 
were  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God.    He  departed 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  191 

this  life  shortly  before  the  restoration,  so  that  he  nei- 
their  experienced  nor  witnessed  the  disastrous  events 
which  followed.  Concerning  the  particular  circum- 
stances of  the  death  of  this  great  and  excellent  man, 
no  memorial  has  been  left.  The  event  seems  to  have 
occurred  in  the  year  1659.  He  was  one  that  had  a 
special  hand  in  drawing  up  those  excellent  formu- 
laries of  doctrine  and  worship,  adopted  by  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  which  are  still 
the  standards  of  doctrine  in  the  Scottish  Church,  and 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States;  and 
as  far  as  doctrine  is  concerned,  by  most  of  the  Dissent- 
ing churches  in  England,  and  the  Congregational 
churches  in  America.  Mr.  Neal  says,  that  "Dr. 
John  Arrowsmith  was  of  unexceptionable  character 
for  learning  and  piety.  He  was  an  acute  disputant, 
and  judicious  divine;  a  real  friend  to  true  religion — 
whose  shining  example  of  piety  and  diligence  in  his 
Master's  service  deserves  to  be  transmitted  to  pos- 
terity. His  name  should  be  in  the  list  of  eminent 
and  learned  divines  who  were  ornaments  to  the  Re- 
formed Church,  in  the  seventeenth  century.^' 

As  a  writer,  he  is  distinguished  for  judiciousness, 
erudition,  and  good  taste. 

Works  of  Dr.  Arrowsmith: 

1.  The  Covenant — avenging  sword  brandished. 
Lev.  xxvi.  28.  Preached  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, January  25,  1642. 

2.  England's  Ebenezer,  a  sermon  from  1  Samuel 
vii.  12. 

»  3.  A  Great  Wonder  in  Heaven.     Rev.  xii.  1,  2. 

4.  Tactica  Sacra,  Tribus  Libris  Comprehensa. 

5.  A  Chain  of  Principles,  (an  unfinished  body  of 
divinity.) 

6.  God — Man.     Exposition  of  John  i.  1 — 18. 

Dr.  Cotton  Mather  says,  "  Every  thing  of  Arrow- 
smith  is  admirable."  The  names  of  Lightfoot,  Selden, 
Gataker,  Greenhill,  Arrowsmith,  Twisse,  Reynolds, 
Wallis,  &c.,  will  always  be  famous  in  the  learned 
world." 


192 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


Ashe,.  Simeon. — This  excellent  man  was  educated 
in  Emmanuel  College,  Cambridge.  He  commenced 
his  ministry  in  Stafibrdshire,  where  he  enjoyed  the 
society  of  some  very  worthy  persons,  with  whom  he 
held  secret  communion  in  the  things  that  relate  to 
Christ's  kingdom.  When  the  order  to  read  the 
»*Book  of  Sports"  was  issued,  Mr.  Ashe  suffered 
with  many  of  his  brethren  for  refusing  to  comply. 
When  the  civil  wars  broke  out,  he  became  chaplain 
to  the  Earl  of  Manchester,  and  had  a  considerable 
part  in  the  visitation  of  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
which  was  carried  on  by  this  nobleman.  He  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Edge-hill,  which  first  effectu- 
ally broke  the  peace  between  the  king  and  Parlia- 
ment, and  which  was  fought  on  Sunday,  October  23, 
1642. 

When  the  Assembly  of  divines  was  called  to  meet 
at  Westminster,  Mr.  Ashe  was  nominated  as  a  mem- 
ber; and  he  is  noted  by  Neal,  as  one  of  those  who 
gave  constant  attendance. 

After  his  coming  to  London  to  attend  on  the  As- 
sembly, he  became  the  minister  of  a  parish  in  Lon- 
don, in  which  he  continued  until  his  death.  He 
joined  in  a  ^'  vindication  of  the  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel in  and  about  London,  in  regard  to  the  death  of 
the  king.'^  He  uniformly  opposed  Cromwell's  usur- 
pation, and  was  active  in  promoting  measures  to 
bring  back  Charles  H. 

Mr.  Ashe  was  possessed  of  a  good  estate,  and  was 
very  liberal  and  hospitable,  and  his  house  much  fre- 
quented. He  was  a  Christian  of  primitive  simpli- 
city, and  a  nonconformist  of  the  old  stamp.  He  was 
exceedingly  diligent  in  preaching  the  gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God,  in  season  and  out  of  season;  and  his 
death  was  conformable  to  his  holy  and  exemplary 
life;  for  he  left  the  world  in  the  cheerful  exercise  of 
faith,  and  abounding  in  the  consolations  of  Christ, 
molested  neither  with  doubts  nor  fears.  He  died  on 
the  20th  of  August,  1662,  a  short  time  before  the 
fatal  Bartholomew  day;  so  that  his  ejectment  with 
his  brethren  was  only  prevented  by  his  decease. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  193 

Mr.  Calamy,  who  knew  him  well  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  during  which  period  they  were  both 
pastors  in  London,  gives  the  following  testimony  to 
his  character.  "  I  can  freely  and  clearly  profess,  and 
that  with  a  sad  heart,  that  I  and  many  others,  have 
lost  a  wise  and  godly  friend,  brother,  and  fellow  la- 
bourer in  the  Lord.  The  church  has  lost  an  eminent 
member  and  choice  pillar;  and  this  city  has  lost  an 
ancient,  faithful,  and  painful  minister. 

*'  The  ministerial  excellencies  of  many  ministers 
were  collected  and  concentered  in  one,  Simeon  Ashe. 
He  was  a  Bezaleel  in  God's  tabernacle,  a  master 
builder,  an  old  disciple,  a  burning  and  a  shining 
light.  One  whom  many  ministers  and  other  good 
Christians  called /«/Aer."  Mr.  Rutherford,  one  of 
the  Scottish  commissioners,  called  him  "  The  graci- 
ous and  zealous  Mr.  Ashe.''^ 

The  following  are  a  list  of  his  writings: 

\.  The  best  Refuge  for  the  most  oppressed.  A 
sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  Ps.  ix.  9. 
on  one  of  their  solemn  fasts,  March  30,  1642. 

2.  Good  Courage  Discovered  and  Encouraged.  A 
sermon  before  the  Military  Forces  of  London,  from 
Ps.  xxxi.  24.     May  16,  1642. 

3.  Religious  Covenanting  Directed,  and  Covenant' 
Keeping  Persuaded.  A  sermon  before  the  Lord- 
Mayor,  Sheriffs,  and  Aldermen  of  London,  from  PSi 
Ixxvi.  11. 

4.  The  Church  sinking,  saved  by  Christ, — before 
the  House  of  Lords,  from  Is.  Ixiii.  5.  February  2^, 
1644. 

5.  God's  Incomparable  Goodness  to  Israel  Un- 
folded and  Applied.  A  sermon  before  the  House  of 
Commons,  from  Ps.  Ixxiii.  1.    April  'i^,  1647. 

6.  Christ  the  Riches  of  the  Gospel  and  the  Hope 
of  Christians. 

7.  Living  loves  between  Christ  and  Dying  Chris- 
tians.    A  Funeral  Sermon. 

Backhurst,  Theodore,  of  Overton,  Waterville, 
was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  but  no 

13 


194  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

monuments  of  his  labours  or  his  character,  more  than 
can  be  inferred  from  this  fact,  remain. 

Baillie,  Robert,  D.  D. — One  of  the  most  learn- 
ed, most  moderate,  and  most  esteemed  of  the  Pres- 
byterian ministers  of  the  day  in  which  he  Hved,  was 
born  in  Glasgow,  in  the  year  1599.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  University  of  Glasgow,  under  the 
tuition  of  M.  Sharp,  who  was  then  the  head  of  the 
college.  After  completing  his  course  in  the  Univer- 
sity, in  1622,  he  received  Episcopal  ordination  from 
the  hands  of  bishop  Law,  with  whom  he  lived  on 
terms  of  the  closest  intimacy,  and  with  whom  he 
kept  up  a  correspondence.  He  was  now  received 
into  the  family  of  the  earl  of  Eglintonne,  as  tutor  to 
his  son;  and  by  this  nobleman  he  was  presented  to 
the  parish  of  Kilwinning.  In  1626,  Mr.  Baillie  was 
admitted  a  regent  in  the  college  of  Glasgow;  on  which 
occasion  he  delivered  an  inaugural  discourse,  De 
Mente  Agente.  About  this  time  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  oriental  literature,  in  which  it  is  admitted, 
that  he  was  a  great  proficient.  Baillie  was  not  only 
ordained  an  Episcopalian,  but,  it  is  said,  had  imbibed 
from  principal  Cameron  the  doctrine  of  passive  obe- 
dience; but  between  the  years  1630  and  1636,  he 
seems  to  have  undergone  a  great  change  in  his  views; 
for  in  the  latter  year,  being  requested  by  archbishop 
Law  to  preach  a  sermon  before  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  church  of  Scotland,  in  commendation  of 
the  "Common  Prayer,"  he  positively  refused;  but 
returned  a  very  respectful  answer  to  the  archbishop. 
He  now  became  a  favourite  with  the  strict  Presbyte- 
rians— and  was  commissioned  by  the  presbytery  of 
Irvine  to  attend  the  famous  General  Assembly  of 
1638,  when  Episcopacy  was  completely  eradicated 
from  the  Church  of  Scotland;  and  most  of  the  bishops 
deposed,  and  solemnly  excommunicated.  Of  this 
Assembly,  which  forms  an  era  in  the  history  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland,  JNIr.  Baillie  has  left  a  very  par- 
ticular and  authentic  account  in  his  "Letters,"  which 
have  been  published  in  two  octavo  volumes.     In  this 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  195 

Assembly  he  conducted  himself  with  great  propriety 
and  moderation.  And  as  the  proceedings  of  this  As- 
sembly brought  on  a  war  with  England,  Baillie  en- 
tered cordially  into  the  defence  of  his  countrymen, 
and  of  the  General  Assembly.  Indeed,  so  great  was 
his  zeal  in  this  cause,  that  he  accompanied  the  army 
m  the  capacity  of  a  chaplain  to  the  regiment  of  his 
patron,  the  earl  of  Eglintoune,  and  has  furnished  a 
graphic  description  of  the  encampment  at  Dunse- 
law. 

"It  would  have  done  you  good,"  says  he,  "to 
cast  your  eyes  athwart  our  brave  and  rich  hills  as 
oft  as  I  did,  with  great  contentment  and  joy;  for  I 
was  there  among  the  rest,  being  chosen  preacher  by 
the  gentlemen  of  our  shire,  who  accompanied  Lord 
Eglintoune.  I  furnished  to  half  a  dozen  good  fel- 
lows, muskets  and  pikes,  and  to  my  boy,  a  broad 
sword.  I  carried  myself — as  the  fashion  was — a 
sword, and  couple  of  Dutch  pistols  at  my  saddle;  but, 
I  promise,  for  the  offence  of  no  one,  except  a  robber 
by  the  way;  for  it  was  our  part  alone,  to  pray  and 
preach  for  the  encouragement  of  my  countrymen, 
which  I  did,  to  my  power,  most  cheerfully."  (Let- 
ters vol.  1,  p.  174.)  In  another,  he  says,  "Our  sol- 
diers grew  in  experience  of  arms,  in  courage,  and 
favour  daily.  Every  one  encouraged  another.  The 
sight  of  their  nobles,  and  their  beloved  pastors,  daily 
roused  their  hearts.  The  good  sermons  and  prayers, 
morning  and  evening,  under  the  roof  of  heaven,  to 
which  their  drums  did  call  them,  for  bells;  the  re- 
monstrance very  frequent,  of  their  conduct  hitherto, 
by  a  hand  clearly  divine;  also  Leslie's  skill  and  pru- 
dence and  fortune,  made  them  as  resolute  for  battle 
as  could  be  wished.  We  were  feared,  that  emula- 
tion among  our  nobles,  might  have  done  harm,  when 
they  should  be  met  in  the  field;  but  such  was  the 
wisdom  and  authority  of  that  old,  little,  crooked  sol- 
dier, (Leslie)  that  all,  with  an  incredible  submission, 
from  the  beginning  to  the  end,  gave  themselves  to  be 
guided  by  him,  as  if  he  had  been  great  Solyman, 
Had  you  lent  your  ear  in  the  morning,  or  especially 


196 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


at  even,  and  heard  in  the  tents,  the  sound  of  some 
singing  psahTis,and  praying,  and  some  reading  Scrip- 
tures, you  would  have  been  refreshed.  True,  there 
was  swearing  and  cursing,  and  brawh"ng  in  some 
quarters,  whereat  we  were  grieved;  but  we  hoped, 
if  our  camp  had  been  settled,  to  have  gotten  some 
way  for  these  disorders;  for  all  of  any  fashion  did 
regret,  and  all  promised  to  do  their  best  endeavours 
for  helping  all  abuses.  For  myself,  I  never  found 
my  mind  in  better  temper  than  it  was  all  that  time, 
since  we  came  from  home,  till  my  head  was  again 
homeward;  for  I  was  as  a  man  who  had  taken  leave 
of  the  world,  and  was  resolved  to  die  in  that  service, 
without  return.''  But  this  expedition  ended  in  a 
treaty  with  their  sovereign,  by  which  all  hostilities 
ceased  for  a  few  months.  On  the  renewal  of  the  war, 
Baillie  accompanied  the  army  in  its  march  into  Eng- 
land, and  has  left  us  the  most  authentic  and  particu- 
lar chronicle  of  the  events  which  occurred. 

In  the  year  1640,  Baillie  was  selected  as  a  suitable 
person  to  accompany  the  commissioners  sent  to  Lon- 
don, to  prepare  charges  against  archbishop  Laud,  for 
his  innovations  on  the  Scottish  Church,  which  were 
considered  the  true  causes  of  the  civil  war.  He  had, 
the  year  before,  published  a  pamphlet,  particularly 
directed  against  Laud,  in  which  he  undertook  to  de- 
monstrate "  the  Arminianism,  popery,  and  tyranny 
of  that  faction,  from  their  own  confessions,"  and  this, 
no  doubt,  pointed  him  out  as  a  suitable  person  to  be 
joined  in  commission  with  those  sent  to  accuse  the 
great  adversary  of  presbytery.  Not  long  after  his 
return  to  his  native  country,  he  was  appointed  joint 
professor  of  divinity,  with  Mr.  David  Dickson,  an- 
other very  eminent  Presbyterian  minister,  of  that 
period.  It  furnishes  a  strong  evidence  of  the  high 
estimation  in  which  he  was  held,  as  a  man  of  learn- 
ing, and  able  theologian,  that  he  had  the  offer  of  this 
office  from  each  of  the  four  Universities  of  Scotland. 
All  these  invitations  he  rejected,  except  the  one  from 
his  native  city,  and  his  alma  mater. 

In  the  year  1643,  Mr.  Baillie  was  chosen  by  the 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  197 

General  Assembly,  a  commissioner,  with  several 
others,  to  go  to  London,  and  hold  correspondence 
with  the  English  Parliament,  and  especially  to  assist 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  in  the  ini- 
portant  work  in  which  they  were  engaged.  In  this 
venerable  Assembly,  in  which  he  sat  until  all  its  im- 
portant business  was  finished,  he  acted  a  very  mo- 
dest part,  seldom  ever  obtruding  himself  upon  them, 
in  public  speeches,  the  tediousness  of  which  he  greatly 
lamented;  but  in  private,  and  on  committees,  his  opi- 
nions were  received  with  great  deference,  and  had 
great  weight  in  leading  to  the  results  which  the  delib- 
erations of  this  synod  produced.  And  from  his  Let- 
ters, written  at  the  time,  we  have  the  most  particular 
and  authentic  account  of  the  transactions  of  that  ven- 
erable Assembly. 

After  his  return  home,  m  1646,  he  resumed   the 
duties  of  his  professorship,  which  he  continued  dili- 
gently to  perform,  until  the  year  1649;  when  he  was 
selected  as  a  suitable  person,  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  Scottish  Church,  to  carry  their  homage  to 
Charles  II.  at  the  Hague,  and  to  invite  him  to  assume 
the  government  of  Scotland,  under   the   limitations 
and  stipulations  of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant. 
This  embassy  he  executed  with  a  dignity  and  pro- 
priety, which  could  have  been  expected  from  no  mem- 
ber of  the  church  but  one,  who,  like  him,  had  been 
engaged  in  conducting  high  diplomatic  affairs  in  Eng- 
land.     Indeed,  Mr.  Baillie,  in  every  transaction  of 
his  life,  appears  to  have  possessed  all  the  accomplish- 
ments of  a  perfectly  well  bred  man;  yet  while  he  was 
conciliatory,  and  ready  to  yield  to  expediency  where 
truth  and  conscience  were  not  concerned,  no  man  was 
more  firm  in  adhering  to  his  religious  principles,  in 
the  profession  of  which  he  was   altogether  sincere. 
He  had,  in  early  life,  been  educated  in  prelatical  prin- 
ciples; but  after  a  thorough  examination  and  mature 
deliberation,  he  became  a  warm  friend  of  Presbytery, 
and  a  zealous  opposer  of  Episcopacy.     When  he  ap- 
peared before  the  king  at  the  Hague,  he  deUvered  to 
his  majesty  a  speech  full  of  loyalty,  in  which  he  ex- 


198  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

pressed,  in  the  name  of  his  church  and  country,  the 
strongest  detestation  of  the  murder  of  his  royal  father; 
and  their  joy  at  the  prospect  of  the  succession  of  his 
son  to  the  throne.  In  these  sentiments,  the  Presbyte- 
rian clergy  of  both  kingdoms  cordially  united;  and 
although  they  were  ungratefully  treated  by  Charles  II., 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that  to  them,  as  the  chief  in- 
struments, he  owed  his  restoration  to  his  country  and 
kingdom. 

During  Cromwell's  usurpation,  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land was  unhappily  divided  into  parties,  or  factions; 
Baillie,  as  might  have  been  expected,  from  his  char- 
acter for  moderation,  sided  with  the  more  moderate 
party,  who  received  the  denomination  of  ''  Resolu- 
tioners."  Indeed,  he  became  the  leader  of  this  party 
in  the  church,  and  wrote  many  of  their  most  important 
public  papers.  He  was  regularly  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  from  his  return  from  England  until  the 
year  1653. 

After  the  restoration,  by  the  influence  of  lord  Lau- 
derdale, Mr.  Baillie  was  made  principal  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Glasgow;  and  had  the  off'er  of  a  bishopric, 
which  he  refused. 

His  health  now  began  to  decline,  and  when  visited 
by  the  new  made  archbishop,  ^' Mr.  Andrew,'^  said 
he,  "for  I  will  not  call  you  my  lord,  king  Charles 
would  have  made  me  one  of  these  lords,  but  I  do  not 
find  in  the  New  Testament  that  Christ  had  any  lords 
in  his  house.''  He  said  he  considered  this  form  of 
ecclesiastical  government,  "inconsistent  with  Scrip- 
ture, contrary  to  pure  and  primitive  antiquity,  and 
diametrically  opposed  to  the  true  interest  of  the 
country." 

Mr.  Baillie  was  a  man  of  undoubted  and  extensive 
learning.  He  had  made  himself  acquainted  with 
thirteen  languages;  and  his  Latin  style  was  so  pure 
and  elegant,  that  good  judges  have  said,  that  it  would 
not  have  disgraced  the  Augustan  age.  He  kept  up  a 
correspondence  with  several  of  the  most  learned  theo- 
logians of  the  continent  of  Europe,  as  Spanheim, 
Rivet,  Salmasius,  Leusden,  and  Constantine  L'Em- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  199 

pereur.  His  single  work,  entitled,  "  Opus  Historic 
cum  and  Chronologicurn,''^  is  itself  a  monument  of 
profound  erudition.  This  work  was  printed  in  folio 
at  Amsterdam;  and  may  still  be  consulted  with  great 
advantage. 

His  greatest  defect  was  one  which  he  possessed 
with  most  good  men  of  that  age;  it  related  to  tolera- 
tion. Against  this  liberal  doctrine  he  opposed  himself 
strenuously,  as  believing,  in  the  sincerity  of  his  heart, 
that  it  would  be  an  inlet  to  every  species  of  heresy 
and  monstrous  error.  He  never  mentions  the  subject 
in  his  "Letters,"  but  with  marked  disapprobation. 
He  has  been  charged  also,  with  some  narrowness  of 
opinion,  on  some  points  which  he  held  in  common 
with  his  countrymen  of  that  age.  He,  and  all  the 
Scottish  commissioners  were  zealously  opposed  to 
paying  any  attention  to  the  day  called  Christmas. 
From  his  "  Letters/'  it  appears,  that  they  were  grieved 
that  the  Assembly  of  divines  at  Westminster,  would 
not  agree  to  sit  on  that  day;  and  they  rejoiced  that 
the  House  of  Commons  refused  to  adjourn  over  that 
day;  but  sat  as  usual,  and  had  no  religious  services 
extraordinary.  Another  opinion  which  he  held  tena- 
ciously, and  which  shows  its  Scottish  origin,  was,  his 
dislike  to  funeral  sermons.  Even  when  Mr.  Mar- 
shall preached  the  funeral  sermon  of  Mr.  Pym,  the 
celebrated  member  of  Parliament,  Mr.  Baillie  would 
not  attend  to  hear  the  sermon,  although  the  Assem- 
bly adjourned  for  the  very  purpose. 

His  opposition  to  Prelacy  continued  firm  to  the  very 
last.  Shortly  before  his  death,  one  of  his  pupils,  who 
afterwards  succeeded  him,  asked  him  what  he  now 
thought  of  the  state  of  the  church.  He  said,  "  Pre- 
lacy is  coming  in  like  a  land-flood.  I  have  studied 
this  controversy  as  far  as  I  was  able;  and  after  all  my 
inquiry,  I  find  it  inconsistent  with  Scripture,  contrary 
to  pure  and  primitive  antiquity,  and  diametrically 
opposite  to  the  interests  of  this  country.'^ 

Archbishop  Spotswood,  in  his  history,  says  of  him, 
"Robert  Baillie  was  a  learned  and  modest  man; 
though  he  published  some  very  violent  writings." 


200  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Woodrow,  in  his  "  Sufferings  of  the  Church  of 
Scotland,  has  given  him  the  following  character: 
"  Mr.  Robert  Baillie  may  be  justly  reckoned  among 
the  great  men  of  this  time;  and  was  an  honour  to  his 
country,  on  account  of  his  profound,  various,  and  uni- 
versal learning;  his  exact  and  solid  judgment;  that 
vast  variety  of  languages  that  he  understood,  to  the 
number  of  twelve  or  thirteen,  and  his  writing  a  Latin 
style,  which  might  become  the  Augustan  age:  but  I 
need  not  enlarge  on  his  character;  his  works  praise 
him  in  all  the  gates." 

His  published  writings  are, 
-  1.  A  Defence  of  the  Reformation  of  the  Church  of 
Scotland,  against  Maxwell,  bishop  of  Ross. 

2.  A  Parallel  between  the  Scottish  Service  Book 
and  the  Roman  Missal,  Breviary,  &c. 

3.  Queries  anent  the  Service  Book. 

4.  The  Canterburion  Self-conviction. 

5.  Antidote  to  Arminianism. 

6.  A  Treatise  on  Scottish  Episcopacy. 

7.  Laudensisism. 

8.  Satan  the  Leader  in  Chief  of  all  who  resist  the 
Reparation  of  Zion. 

9.  Sermons — before  the  House  of  Commons,  from 
Zach.  iii.  12,  at  their  solemn  fast,  Feb.  28,  1644.  Be- 
fore the  Lords,  from  Isaiah  Ixiii.  17,  on  a  fast  day, 
July  30,  1645. 

10.  A  Dissuasive  from  the  Errors  of  the  Times, 
especially,  of  the  Independents.     Second  Part. 

11.  A  Reply  to  the  Modest  Inquirer. 

12.  Opus  Historicum  and  Chronologiciun. 

13.  Letters  and  Journals.  2  vol.  8vo.  Extracted 
from  his  papers. 

Baylie,  Thomas,  B.  D.,  was  born  in  Wiltshire, 
England,  and  was  entered  of  St.  Alban's  Hall,  in  the 
University  of  Oxford,  in  1600,  and  was  chosen  demy 
of  Magdalen  College,  in  1602,  and  perpetual  fellow 
of  the  house  in  1611,  after  he  had  taken  his  master's 
degree. 

,Mr.  Baylie  was  strongly  attached  to  the  principles 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


201 


of  the  Puritans;  and  was  open  in  the  declaration  of 
his  opinions,  and  took  the  covenant.  He  was  chosen 
by  the  ParUament  one  of  the  Assembly  of  divines  at 
Westminster.  Mr.  B.  was  an  indefatigable  preacher; 
and  was  presented  with  the  rich  rectory  of  Milden- 
hall,  in  Wiltshire;  from  which  he  was  ejected  by  the 
act  of  uniformity,  in  1662;  upon  which  he  retired  to 
Marlborough,  and  had  a  private  congregation;  where 
he  died  in  1663,  aged  eighty-one. 

Both  Wood  and  Walker  charge  him  with  holding 
the  opinions  of  the  Fifth  Monarchy  men;  but  Dr. 
Calamy  remarks,  that  this  was  not  the  cause  of  his 
ejectment,  but  his  non-conformity.  The  published 
writings  of  Mr.  Baylie  were, 

1.  t)e  Merit 0  Mortis  Chris ti,  et  Be  Modo  Con- 
vtrsionis.     Diatribce  Duo. 

2.  Concio  ad  Clerum,  habita  in  Templo  B.  Mariae. 
Oxon. 

3.  Wood  ascribes  to  him  a  few  sermons. 

Bond,  John,  was  born  at  Dorchester,  in  Dorset 
county,  and  was  educated  under  the  Rev.  John  White, 
whose  ministry  appears  to  have  been  much  blessed 
to  him  in  his  youth.  In  due  season  he  was  sent  to 
the  University  of  Cambridge,  where  he  took  the  de- 
gree of  bachelor  in  civil  law.  He  was  openly  an  ad- 
vocate for  the  Puritans,  and  suffered  with  them  for 
conscience  sake.  He  was  zealous  for  the  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant,  and  bent  on  a  reformation  of 
the  church  in  doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and  gov- 
ernment. 

Mr.  Bond  was  minister  of  the  Savoy  in  London, 
and  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  divines 
at  Westminster;  but  not  one  of  the  original  members^ 
but  of  the  number  superadded,  to  supply  vacancies. 
He  sometimes  preached  before  the  long  Parliament, 
and  some  of  his  sermons  are  extant.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Master  of  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge,  which 
place  Mr.  John  Selden  had  refused.  He  was  one  of 
the  commissioners  for  the  ejectment  of  ignorant  and 
scandalous  ministers  and  school  masters,  in  1554.    In 


202 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  resided  at  Lutton,  iii  Dor- 
setshire, where  he  died  about  1G80. 
Mr.  Bond's  writings  are, 

1.  A  Door  of  Hope. 

2.  Holy  and  Loyal  Activity. 

3.  Salvation  in  a  Mystery;  or  a  Prospective  Glass 
for  England's  case:  a  sermon  before  the  House  of 
Commons,  from  Is.  xlv.  15. 

4.  A  Dawning  in  the  West:  a  thanksgiving  sermon, 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  from  Is.  xxv.  9. 

5.  Job  in  the  West.     Two  fast  sermons. 

6.  A  thanksgiving  Sermon,  before  the  House  of 
Commons,  from  Psalm  1.  23. 

7.  A  sermon  entitled,  "  Grapes  among  Thorns,'- 
before  the  House  of  Commons. 

Bowles,  Oliver,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
divines  at  Westminster,  was  pastor  of  Sutton,  in  Bed- 
fordshire, England.  He  is  marked  in  Neal's  list  as 
one  who  gave  constant  attendance  at  the  sessions  of 
the  Assembly. 

Though,  in  his  time,  he  was  esteemed  a  very  emi- 
nent divine,  very  few  facts  relative  to  him  are  left  on 
record.  The  only  publications  of  his  which  are  now 
known,  are 

1.  A  sermon  preached  before  the  Parliament  and 
the  Assembly  of  divines,  from  John  xii.  17,  entitled, 
"  Zeal  for  God's  House  Quickened." 

2.  De  Pastore  Evangelico  Tractatus;  said  to  be 
eminently  judicious  and  useful. 

Bridge,  William,  was  a  student  in  Cambridge  for 
thirteen  years,  and  sometime  fellow  of  Emmanuel 
College,  in  that  University.  After  he  entered  the 
ministry,  he  was  first  settled  in  Essex,  where  he  con- 
tinued about  five  years;  and  afterwards  was  called 
to  a  church  in  Norwich,  where  he  continued  until  he 
was  silenced  for  non-conformity,  by  Bishop  Wren,  in 
1637.  He  was  afterwards  excommunicated;  but 
when  the  writ  came  out  against  him,  he  fled  to  Hol- 
land.    In  1642,  he  returned  again  to  England;  and 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  203 

the  following  year  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  As- 
sembly of  divines  at  Westminster,  and  was  frequently 
invited  to  preach  before  the  long  Parliament. 

Mr.  Bridge  was  in  principle  an  Independent,  and 
belonged,  of  course,  to  the  dissenters  in  the  Assembly. 
They  were,  Thomas  Goodwin,  Philip  Nye,  Jeremiah 
Burroughs,  Sydrach  Sympson,  WiUiam  Bridge,  Wil- 
liam Greenhill,  William  Carter;  all  men  of  eminence; 
and  though  few  in  number,  in  talents  were  a  host. 

Mr.  Bridge,  after  his  return  from  Holland,  was  set- 
tled in  Yarmouth,  where  he  continued  to  preach  the 
glorious  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  until  his  eject- 
ment in  1662.  After  this  event  he  preached  occa- 
sionally at  Clapham,  in  Surry,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  12, 1670,  when  he  was  seventy  years 
of  age. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Bridge,  as  given  by  Neal,  is, 
"That  he  was  a  good  scholar,  a  hard  student,  an  ex- 
cellent and  useful  preacher,  and  a  candid  and  charita- 
ble man.'^  He  had  a  well  furnished  library,  and  rose 
every  morning,  winter  and  summer,  at  four  o'clock, 
to  pursue  his  devotions  and  studies.     His  works  are, 

1.  Babylon's  Downfall. 

2.  The  Hiding  Place  of  the  Saints. 

3.  Twenty  one  Treatises,  2  vols. 

4.  Eight  Sermons  of  Good  and  Bad  Company. 

5.  The  Freeness  of  the  Gospel  Grace,  and  Love  of 
God  to  Believers. 

6.  The  Sinfulness  of  Sin,  and  Fulness  of  Christ. 

7.  A  Word  to  the  Aged. 

S.  His  Remains — Eight  Sermons. 

BiTRGEss,  Anthony,  was  born  and  brought  up  at 
Watford,  Hartfordshire,  England,  where  Dr.  Cornelius 
Burgess  was  minister;  to  whom,  however,  he  was 
not  related.  He  was  educated  at  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge;  but  was  chosen  a  fellow  of  Emmanuel 
College,  in  the  same  University,  simply  on  account  of 
his  moral  worth  and  good  scholarship.  He  was  emi- 
nently distinguished  in  the  University,  by  his  learning, 
piety,  good  disposition,  and  as  a  good  tutor. 


204  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

After  leaving  the  University,  Mr.  Burgess  was 
pastor  of  a  church  in  Sutton-Coldfield,  in  Warwick- 
shire, where  he  acquired  a  high  reputation,  as  a 
preacher  and  a  soUd  divine.  He  remained  here, 
diUgently  and  faithfully  performing  the  duties  of  his 
office,  until  by  the  disorders  produced  by  the  civil 
war,  he  was  obliged  to  flee  for  safety  from  his  coun- 
try. Many  able  ministers,  and  praying,  pious  people 
were  convened  in  this  place;  for  these  were  the  kind 
of  persons  most  annoyed  by  the  king's  troops.  Among 
these,  beside  Mr.  Burgess,  were  Mr.  Baxter  and  Mr. 
Vines.  While  confined  to  this  place,  they  had  a  lec- 
ture, every  morning,  in  which  Mr.  Burgess  was  fre- 
quently called  upon  to  take  a  part. 

In  1643,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  where  he  was  held  in 
high  estimation,  and  was  eminently  distinguished  for 
his  genuine  piety  and  solid  learning.  While  in  at- 
tendance upon  the  Assembly,  he  was  frequently 
called  upon  to  preach  before  the  Parliament,  at  their 
solemn  fasts  and  other  public  occasions.  He  was 
also,  during  this  period,  employed  as  a  lecturer  at 
Lawrence-Jury.  By  the  ministers  of  London,  he 
was  earnestly  solicited  to  preach  a  course  of  lectures 
against  Antinomianism ;  which  were  delivered  at 
Lawrence-Jury,  and  afterwards  published.  These 
lectures  were  highly  prized,  as  containing  a  solid  re- 
futation of  the  errors  against  which  they  were  di- 
rected. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Burgess  was  relieved  from  his 
duties  in  London,  he  returned  to  his  flock,  and  re- 
sumed his  pastoral  charge  at  Sutton-Coldfield,  where 
he  remained  till  1662,  when  he  was  ejected,  with  so 
many  other  ministers,  eminent  for  their  piety  and 
learning.  Before  the  civil  war,  he  had  conformed; 
but  with  the  new  requisitions,  after  the  restoration, 
he  could  by  no  means  comply;  and,  on  his  death  bed, 
he  professed  great  satisfaction,  on  the  review  of  this 
part  of  his  conduct.  After  his  ejectment,  he  lived  at 
Tamworth,  in  Stafforshire,  in  a  very  cheerful  and 
pious  manner.     Before  his  ejectment,  the  new  bishop 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  205 

of  Coventry  sent  for  him,  hoping  to  be  able  to  bring 
him  to  conform.  In  this  he  failed;  bnt  the  interview 
gave  him  so  high  an  opinion  of  Mr.  Burgess's  abili- 
ties, that  he  said,  "  That  he  was  fit  for  a  professor's 
place  in  the  University."  There  are  many  other 
testimonies  which  might  be  cited,  to  show  his  high 
reputation;  but  we  will  mention  only  two.  Mr. 
Flavel,  in  his  ^'Fountain  of  Life,"  says,  "that  Mr. 
Anthony  Burgess  was  a  grave  divine."  Dr.  John 
Wallis,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines, and  a  very  eminent  scholar,  gives  him  the  fol- 
lowing character:  "I  was  sent  to  the  University  of 
Cambridge,  and  there  admitted,  in  Emmanuel  Col- 
lege, under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Anthony  Burgess,  a 
pious,  learned,  and  able  scholar,  a  good  disputant,  a 
good  tutor,  an  eminent  preacher,  a  sound  and  ortho- 
dox divine,  and  afterward  minister  of  Sutton-Coldfield, 
in  Warwickshire." 

As  a  writer,  Mr.  Burgess  was  truly  eminent.  Dr. 
Fullen,  in  his  History  of  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
says  that  he  had  omitted  several  still  alive,  "as  Mr. 
Anthony  Burgess,  the  profitable  expounder  of  the 
much  mistaken  nature  of  the  two  covenants."  Bishop 
Wilkins  puts  him  in  the  list  of  divines,  most  eminent 
for  sermons  and  practical  divinity.  Dr.  Cotton  Ma- 
ther says,  in  his  quaint  way,  "  I  may  say  he  has 
written  for  thee  excellent  things."  His  style  is  neat 
and  plain,  and  his  doctrine  always  sound. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  his  published  writings: 

1.  The  Difficulty  of,  and  Encouragements  to,  a 
Reformation.  A  sermon  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, from  Mark  i.  2,  3. 

2.  Judgments  Removed,  where  Judgment  is  Exe- 
cuted. A  sermon,  from  Psalm  cvi.  30,  31,  before 
the  Court  Martial,  Lawrence-Jury. 

3.  The  Magistrates'  Commission  from  Heaven, 
from  Rom.  xiii.  4.  At  the  election  of  Lord  Mayor, 
September  28,  1644. 

4.  Rome's  Cruelty  and  Apostasy.  A  sermon, 
preached  before  the  House  of  Commons,  from  Rev. 
xix.  2,  November  5,  1644. 


206  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETHCES. 

5.  The  Reformation  of  the  Church  to  be  endea- 
voured, more  than  that  of  the  Common weaUh.  A 
sermon,  from  Judges  vi.  27,  28,  29,  before  the  House 
of  Lords,  at  a  public  fast,  August  27,  1645. 

6.  Public  Affections  Pressed.  A  sermon,  from 
Numb.  xi.  12,  before  the  House  of  Commons,  Febru- 
ary 25,  1645. 

7.  Vindicix  Legis.  A  Vindication  of  the  Moral 
Law  and  the  Covenants,  from  the  Errors  of  Papists, 
Arminians,  Socinians,  and  more  especially  Antinomi- 
ans.  In  twenty-nine  lectures,  preached  at  Lawrence- 
Jury,  1646. 

8.  The  True  Doctrine  of  Justification  Asserted  and 
Vindicated  from  the  Errors  of  Papists,  Arminians, 
Socinians,  and  more  especially  Antinomians,  in  thirty 
lectures,  preached  at  Lawrence-Jury,  1651. 

9.  A  Treatise  of  Justification.  Part  II.  The  Natu- 
ral Righteousness  of  God,  and  Imputed  Righteousness 
of  Christ.     In  forty-five  sermons,  1645. 

10.  Spiritual  Repining;  or  a  Treatise  of  Grace  and 
Assurance.   1652. 

11.  Spiritual  Repining.  Part  II.  Or,  a  Treatise  of 
Sin,  with  its  Causes,  Differences,  Mitigations,  and 
Aggravations.  1654. 

12.  One  Hundred  and  Forty-five  Expository  Ser- 
mons, upon  the  whole  seventeenth  chapter  of  the 
Gospel  according  to  John,  &c.   1656. 

13.  The  Doctrine  of  Original  Sin,  Asserted  and 
Vindicated,  against  the  Old  and  New  Adversaries 
thereof,  Socinians,  Papists,  Arminians,  and  Anabap- 
tists. 1659. 

14.  The  Scripture  Directory,  for  Church  Officers, 
and  People;  or  a  Practical  Commentary  on  1  Cor.  iii. 

15.  An  Expository  Commentary  on  the  whole  first 
chapter  of  2  Corinthians.   1661. 

Burgess,  Cornelius,  was  born  in  Somersetshire, 
and  was  educated  in  the  university  of  Oxford,  into 
which  he  entered  as  a  student  in  1611.  He  appears  to 
have  been  connected  with  several  colleges  in  this  uni- 
versity, but  took  his  first  degree  in  Wadham,  and  his 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  207 

second  in  Lincoln.  He  entered  into  holy  orders,  and 
afterwards  took  both  degrees,  in  divinity,  and  became 
chaplain  to  Charles  I.  in  1627. 

Dr.  Burgess  was  brought  into  the  high  commission 
court,  by  a  powerful  adversary,  who  charged  him 
with  permitting  some  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
in  a  sitting  posture;  and  with  disaffection  to  Episco- 
pal government.  His  first  appearance  before  this 
court  was  in  1622;  but  again,  in  1629,  he  was  called 
to  account  for  refusing  to  read  the  common  prayer, 
in  his  surplice  and  hood.  In  the  year  1635,  he 
preached  a  sermon  in  Latin,  to  the  London  ministers, 
by  order  of  the  governors  of  Sion  College,  in  which 
he  urged  upon  them  the  duty  of  using  all  possible  dili- 
gence in  preaching  the  "  Gospel  of  the  kingdom,"  and 
enforced  his  exhortation,  by  the  example  of  ancient 
bishops,  who  were  more  frequently  to  be  found  in  the 
pnlpit,  than  in  the  palaces  of  princes.  After  which 
he  cited  a  canon  of  the  sixth  council  in  TruUo,  which 
enjoined  bishops  to  preach  often,  at  least  every  Lord's 
day,  or  be  canonically  admonished  for  their  neglect; 
and  then,  if  they  reformed  not,  that  they  should  be 
excommunicated.  Complaint  of  this  sermon  was 
made  to  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  who  caused 
him  to  be  cited  before  the  high-commission  court, 
where  he  was  charged  with  being  disaffected  to  the 
bookof  common  prayer,  and  ceremonies  of  the  church; 
and  also  with  the  government  of  the  church,  by  bish- 
ops. He  was  also  charged  with  making  invidious 
comparisons  between  the  ancient  and  modern  bishops. 
The  prelates  were  exceedingly  displeased  with  him, 
and  were  determined  that  he  should  be  both  deprived 
and  disgraced.  But  they  had  a  man  of  invincible 
courage  to  deal  with;  for  he  professed  his  wiUingness 
to  stand  to  what  he  said  in  that  sermon,  even  to  the 
death.  His  defence  was  so  bold  and  convincing,  that 
he  obtained  a  complete  victory  over  his  accusers. 
When  the  long  Parliament  was  opened,  in  1640,  a 
public  fast  was  observed,  November  17,  on  which 
occasion  Dr.  Burgess  and  Mr.  Marshall  were  called 
to  preach  to  the  House  of  Commons.     The  text  of 


208  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Dr.  Burgess  was  from  Jer.  1.  5,  <^  They  shall  ask  the 
way  to  Zion  with  their  faces  thitherward,  saying, 
come  and  let  us  join  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in  a  per- 
petual covenant,  that  shall  not  be  forgotten."  The 
sermon  is  still  extant,  and  is  replete  with  excellent 
matter.  In  the  year  1641,  he  delivered  an  animated 
speech  in  the  House  of  Commons,  against  deans  and 
chapters.  This  greatly  alarmed  the  cathedral  men, 
who  sent  up  a  deputation  to  Parliament,  of  which 
Dr.  Hackett  was  the  chief,  who  asked  and  obtained 
leave  to  deliver  a  speech  in  defence  of  cathedrals  and 
their  officers.  To  this  speech  of  Dr.  Hackett,  Dr. 
Burgess  made  an  elaborate  and  able  reply.  In  the 
division  which  was  now  beginning  to  be  formed.  Dr. 
Burgess  took  sides  with  the  Parliament;  and  in  1641, 
was  one  of  the  divines  who  held  a  meeting  in  the 
Jerusalem  chamber,  Westminster,  for  accommodating 
ecclesiastical  differences.  This  conference  sat  six 
days,  but  could  come  to  no  agreement.  He  was  fre- 
quently appointed  to  preach  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons; and  his  zeal,  courage,  and  fidelity  being  well 
known,  he  was  chosen  chaplain  to  the  regiment  of 
horse,  raised  for  the  earl  of  Essex's  army. 

In  1643,  Dr.  Burgess  was  selected  as  a  suitable 
person  to  be  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  divines, 
which  the  Parliament  determined  to  convene;  and 
when  this  body  was  organized,  in  Westminster,  was 
chosen,  with  Mr.  John  White,  an  assessor,  or  assistant 
to  the  prolocutor. 

When  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  was  sent 
down  to  the  Assembly,  September,  1643,  Dr.  Burgess 
argued  against  imposing  it,  and  at  first,  refused  to 
take  it,  for  independence  was  a  characteristic  feature 
of  his  mind.  But  after  mature  deliberation  he  over- 
came his  scruples,  and  became  a  Covenanter. 

As  the  bishops  now  refused  to  ordain  the  candi- 
dates who  adhered  to  the  Parliament,  the  Assembly 
was  requested  to  deliberate  on  the  course  proper  to 
be  pursued;  upon  which  they  recommended,  that 
certain  persons  should  be  appointed  to  examine  and 
ordain  such  candidates,  as  were  qualified  for  the  office. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  209 

The  Parliament  accordingly  passed  an  ordinance,  Oc- 
tober 2,  1644,  by  which  ten  presbyters,  members  of 
the  Assembly,  were  appointed  to  attend  to  this  busi- 
ness. Among  these  was  Dr.  Burgess,  who  is  first 
named. 

When  St.  Paul's  cathedral  was  again  opened,  at 
the  request  of  the  people.  Dr.  Burgess  was  appointed 
lecturer  there,  on  Sunday  evening,  and  on  other  days 
of  the  week,  with  a  salary  of  £400  per  annum,  to  be 
paid  out  of  the  revenues- of  the  cathedral.  As  the 
Parliament  was  in  great  need  of  funds  to  support 
themselves  and  the  war,  they  invited  all  who  could 
afford  it,  to  lend  money  to  them  5  but  when  they  sold 
the  estates  of  the  bishops,  they  offered  advantageous 
terms  to  their  creditors,  if  they  would  purchase  these 
lands.  Dr.  Burgess  having  lent  considerable  sums  to 
the  Parliament,  out  of  zeal  for  their  cause,  and  having 
a  wife  and  ten  children  to  support,  and  not  seeing 
how  he  v/as  otherwise  to  be  reimbursed,  became  a 
purchaser  of  a  certain  portion  of  these  ecclesiastical 
estates,  all  which  he  utterly  lost  without  compensa- 
tion at  the  restoration  of  Charles  II. 

In  164S,  Dr.  Burgess  preached  boldly  against  the 
design  of  executing  the  king,  and  joined  with  a  num- 
ber of  ministers  in  and  about  London,  in  subscribing 
a  paper  in  which  they  vindicated  themselves  from 
the  aspersions  cast  upon  them,  that  they  had  pro- 
moted the  bringing  the  king  to  capital  punishment. 
This  paper  was  subscribed  by  fifuy-seven  names,  and 
in  it  they  express  their  strong  disapprobation  of  the 
proceedings  against  the  life  of  the  king,  and  solemnly 
exhorted  their  respeciive  charges,  and  all  over  whom 
they  had  influence,  to  adhere  to  their  covenant  vows, 
and  to  humble  themselves  in  penitence  before  God, 
on  account  of  their  sins. 

Dr.  Burgess  and  many  other  Presbyterian  ministers 
have  been  bitterly  censured,  in  relation  to  the  death 
of  the  king;  but  their  calumniators  have  not  taken 
the  pains  to  examine  carefully  into  the  facts.  The 
aforesaid  paper,  published  at  the  time,  and  with  no 
small  risk,  is  sufTicient  to  convince  any  impartial  per- 

14 


210  EIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

son,  that  he  could  have  had  no  agency  in  this  regi- 
cidal  transaction. 

Dr.  Burgess,,  at  the  time  of  the  restoration,  was 
minister  of  St.  Andrews,  at  Wells,  from  which  living 
he  was  ejected,  in  1662,  for  refusing  to  comply  with 
the  conditions  required  by  the  cruel  Bartholomew 
act. 

After  his  ejectment,  Dr.  Burgess  lived  in  retirement, 
and  Avas  reduced  to  great  straits  and  necessities;  for 
by  his  adherence  to  the  Parliament,  as  has  been 
stated,  he  lost  all  his  property,  which  was  abundantly 
sufficient  for  his  support.  The  latter  days  of  this  ex- 
cellent minister  were  dark  and  cloudy,  and  embittered 
with  many  afflictions.  He  died  at  Watford,  in  the 
year  1665,  and  was  buried  in  the  middle  of  the 
church  in  that  place  on  the  9th  of  June. 

Dr.  Calamy  speaks  of  him  as  a  man  excellently 
skilled  in  the  controversies  respecting  liturgies,  and 
church  government;  and  Dr.  Neal  says,  "That  he 
was  esteemed  a  very  learned  and  judicious  divine." 

The  pubhshed  writings  of  Cornelius  Burgpss  are, 

1.  A  Chain  of  Graces  drawn  out  at  length,  or  a 
brief  Treatise  of  Virtue,  &c. 

2.  A  New  Discovery  of  Personal  Tythes,  &c. 

3.  The  Fire  of  the  Sanctuary,  newly  uncovered,  &c. 

4.  Baptismal  Regeneration  of  Elect  Infants,  &c. 

5.  Sermons  on  Public  Occasions,  and  Treatises  on 
Several  Points. 

• 
Burroughs,  Jeremiah,  a  dissenting,  (that  is,  an 
Independent.)  member  of  the  Assembly  of  divines  at 
Westminster,  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge. After  he  entered  the  ministry,  he  suffered 
much  vexation  and  persecution  for  non-conformity, 
under  Bishop  Wren's  visitation  articles.*  By  these 
he  was  induced  to  forsake  his  country  and  seek  a 
refuge  in  Holland,  where  he  became  the  minister  of 

*  The  book  contained  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  articles  in 
which  were  eight  hundred  and  ninety-seven  questions,  some  trivial, 
some  superstitious,  and  some  difficult  to  be  answered.  These  questions 
were  intended  to  entangle  and  root  out  the  Puritans  from  the  church. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  211 

an  English  congregation  in  Rotterdam.  But  when 
the  long  Parhament  came  into  power,  he  received  en- 
couragement to  return  home;  and  was  chosen  the 
preacher  of  two  of  the  largest  congregations  about 
London,  Stepney  and  Cripple-gate.  He  was  also 
called  to  sit  in  the  Assembly  of  divines  at  Westmin- 
ster, where  he  manifested  great  candour,  modesty, 
and  charity. 

Though  a  popular  and  powerful  preacher,  he  never 
gathered  a  separate  congregation;  nor  accepted  a 
parochial  living,  but  wore  out  his  strength  by  con- 
tinual preaching. 

When  the  dispute  between  the  Presbyterians  and 
Independents  was  agitated  in  the  Assembly,  Mr. 
Burroughs  declared,  "  That  if  the  Independent  con- 
gregations might  not  be  exempted  from  the  coercive 
power  of  the  classes,  nor  have  liberty  to  govern  them- 
selves in  their  own  way,  as  long  as  they  behaved 
peaceably  towards  the  civil  magistrate,  they  were  re- 
solved to  suffer,  or  to  go  to  some  other  part  of  the 
world,  where  they  might  enjoy  their  liberty.'' 

In  his  doctrine,  he  was  strictly  Calvinistic;  but  his 
sermons  were  plain,  practical,  and  powerful.  His 
aim  was  to  guide  his  hearers  in  the  way  to  heaven; 
and  with  this  view,  he  was  much  occupied  in  laying 
open  the  great  evil  of  sin,  and  the  benefits  of  redemp- 
tion through  Christ's  atoning  blood.  In  his  day,  he 
was  esteemed  an  ornament  to  the  pulpit;  so  that  Mr. 
Hugh  Peters  called  him  the  morning  and  evening  star 
of  Stepney;  because  he  preached  there  early  in  the 
morning  and  in  the  evening.  Mr.  Burroughs  died  of 
a  pulmonary  complaint,  November  14,  1646,  in  the 
forty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Neal  says,  "  that 
he  was  an  excellent  scholar,  a  good  expositor,  and  a 
most  popular  preacher."  He  is  now  principally 
known  by  his  writings,  which  are  evangelical  and 
practical;  and  have  always  been  held  in  great  esteem. 
Dr.  Wilkins,  in  his  Preacher,  reckons  him  among  the 
most  eminent  of  the  English  divines,  for  practical 
divinity.     Cotton  Mather  also,  in  his  "  Student  and 


212  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

) 

Preacher,"  strongly  recommends  the  writings  of  Bur- 
roughs; especially,  his  ^'Moses' Choice."  And  Dr. Ful- 
ler has  enrolled  his  name  among  the  learned  writers 
of  Emmanuel  College,  in  the  University  of  Cambridge. 
The  works  of  Jeremiah  Burroughs,  are, 

1.  The  Excellency  of  a  Gracious  Spirit. 

2.  The  Seaman's  Direction  in  time  of  storm. 

3.  Moses'  Self-denial. 

4.  Moses'  Choice. 

5.  Zion's  Joy. 

6.  The  G!orious  name  of  God,  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

7.  An  Exposition  of  the  Prophecy  of  Plosea. 

8.  A  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Peers,  from 
Phil.  W.  12. 

9.  A  Fast  Sermon  before  the  Commons,  from  Mat- 
thew, V.  6. 

10.  Irenicum  to  the  lovers  of  Truth  and  Peace. 

11.  Gospel  Worship,  or  the  right  manner  of  sanc- 
tifying the  name  of  God,  in  hearing  the  Word,  the 
Lord's  Supper,  and  Prayer.     . 

12.  Gospel  Conversation. 

13.  Tlie  Rare  Jewel  of  Christian  Contentment. 

14.  Two  Treatises.  1.  Earthly  Mindedness.  2. 
Conversing  in  Heaven  and  walking  with  God. 

15.  A  Treatise  of  the  Evil  of  Evils;  or  the  exceed- 
ing Sinfulness  of  Sin. 

16.  The  Saint's  Treasury. 

17.  A  Treatise  on  Faith  and  Hope,  and  walking 
by  Faith. 

18.  Gospel  Reconciliation. 

19.  Christ  inviting  Sinners  to  come  to  Him  for  rest, 

20.  The  Saint's  Happiness. 

21.  The  Gospel  Revelation.  Three  Treatises. 
1.  The  Nature  of  God.  2.  Excellencies  of  Christ. 
3.  Excellency  of  Man's  Immortal  Soul. 

22.  The  Excellency  of  Holy  Courage  in  evil  times. 

23.  Gospel  Remission. 

24.  Four  Useful  Discourses.  1.  The  Improve- 
ment of  Prosperity  for  the  Glory  of  God.  2.  Chris- 
tian Submission.     3.   Christ  a  Christian's  Life,  and 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


213 


Death  his  Gain.     4.  The  Gospel  of  Peace,  sent  to  the 
Sons  of  Peace. 

25.  The  Difference  between  the  Spots  of  the  Godly 
and  of  the  Wicked. 

Byfield,  Richard,  was  born  in  Worcestershire, 
in  England;  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  was  en- 
tered a  student  in  Queen's  College,  Oxford.  When 
he  had  taken  his  degrees  in  the  arts,  he  left  the  Uni- 
versity, and  having  entered  the  ministry  was  first  set- 
tled as  curate  of  Isle  worth;  but  afterwards  was  made 
rector  of  Long  Ditton,  in  the  county  of  Surrey.  From 
this  charge  he  was  ejected  for  non-conformity,  in  1662. 
After  his  ejectment  he  retired  to  Mortlake,  a  pleasant 
village  in  Surrey,  situated  on  the  Thames,  a  few  miles 
from  London.  'Here  he  spent  his  time  in  the  godly 
instruction  of  his  own  family,  and  in  preparing  for 
death,  which  he  perceived  to  be  approaching.  His 
decease  took  place  in  December,  1664,  when  he  had 
reached  his  sixty-seventh  year. 

He  is  allowed  to  have  been  a  man  of  great  piety 
and  zeal;  and  distinguished  himself  especially  in  the 
vindication  of  the  morality  of  the  Christian  Sabbath. 
There  is  an  anecdote  related  of  him,  which  exhibits 
Oliver  Cromwell's  character   in  a  favourable  light. 
Mr.  Byfield  and  his  patron.  Sir  John  Evelyn,  had  a 
difference  about  repairing  the  church.     Mr.  B.  com- 
plained to  the  Protector,  who  summoned  them  both 
to  appear  before  him,  with  a  view  to  reconcile  them. 
Sir  John  said  that  Mr.  Byfield  reflected  on  him  in 
his  sermons;  but  he  solemnly  declared  that  he  had  no 
such  intention.     Cromwell,  turning  to  Sir  John,  said, 
<' I  d(H\bt  there  is  indeed  something  amiss:  the  word 
is  penetrating  and  finds  you  out.    Search  your  ways." 
Then  he   spoke   so  pathetically,  and  with  so  many 
tears,  that  both  Sir  John  Evelyn  and  Mr.  Byfield  were 
deeply  affected,  and  fell  to  weeping  also.     The  Pro- 
tector made  them  good  friends  before  he  dismissed 
themx;  and  to  remove  the  ground  of  their  controversy, 
ordered  his  secretary  to  pay  £100  towards  the  repair 
of  the  church. 


214  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Byfield's  writings  are, 

1.  The  Light  of  Faith  and  Way  of  Holiness. 

2.  The  Doctrine  of  the  Sabbath  vindicated. 

3.  The  Power  of  the  Christ  of  God. 

4.  Zion's  Answer  to  the  Nations'  Ambassadors — 
a  sermon  before  the  Honse  of  Commons,  from  Isaiah 
XIV.  32. 

5.  Temple-Defilers  defiled;  wherein  a  true  visible 
church  is  described. 

6.  The  Gospel's  Glory,  without  prejudice  to  the 
Law. 

7.  The  Real  Way  to  Good  Works. 

8.  A  Treatise  of  Charity. 

Calamy,  Edmund,  B.  D.,  was  born  in  London,  in 
the  month  of  February,  1600.  His  father  was  a  citi- 
zen of  London.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  sent 
to  Cambridge,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year,  where  he 
was  matriculated  in  Pembroke  Hall,  July  4,  1616.  In 
the  year  1619,  he  took  his  bachelor's  degree;  and  in 
1632,  that  of  bachelor  of  divinity.  He  was  prevented 
from  obtaining  a  fellowship  by  his  avowed  hostility 
to  the  prevailing  Arminian  party;  although  by  his 
talents,  learning,  and  good  character,  he  was  fully 
entitled  to  it.  At  length,  however,  he  Avas  elected  to 
what  was  denominated  tanquam  socius,  that  is,  he 
had  a  stipend  and  certain  privileges,  but  no  share  in 
the  government  of  the  House;  ?ind  the  tanquam 
socius  held  his  ollice  for  only  three  years,  unless  he 
was  re-chosen. 

Calamy  received  much  kind  attention  from  the  very 
excellent  and  pious  bishop  Felton,  who  received  him 
into  his  favour,  and  gave  liim  a  living  near  Cam- 
bridge, where  he  was  ilie  means  of  much  good.  The 
good  bishop  also  assisted  him  in  his  studies,  which  he 
pursued  with  unwearied  assiduity.  In  this  retire- 
ment, he  read  over  the  whole  of  Bellarmine's  Con- 
troversies, and  the  answers  to  this  great  polemic, 
which  were  written  by  Chamier.  Whitaker,  Reynolds, 
and  others.  He  also  read  with  attention,  the  writings 
of  some  of  the  principal  schoolmen,  particularly  those 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  215 

of  the  angelical  doctor,  Thomas  Aquinas.  But  al- 
though by  his  dihgence  in  study  he  laid  up  treasures 
of  knowledge,  he  never  affected  learning  in  the  pul- 
pit, but  studied  a  plain,  familiar  manner  of  speaking, 
which  did  not  in  the  least  savour  of  the  schools. 
Though  much  conversant  with  other  books,  the  Bible 
was  not  neglected ;  every  day  he  read  a  certain  por- 
tion of  the  Scriptures  with  critical  care;  making  use 
of  such  commentaries  as  he  had  at  command.  By 
this  means,  his  mind  became  enriched  with  those  sa- 
sacred  treasures,  for  which  he  always  manifested  a 
high  esteem  and  veneration. 

After  the  death  of  bishop  Felton,  Mr.  Calamy  was 
chosen  one  of  the  lecturers  at  Edmund's-Bury,  in  the 
county  of  Suffolk,  where  he  had  Mr.  Burroughs  as 
his  fellow  labourer.  Upon  receiving  this  call,  he  re- 
signed the  vicarage  of  Swaffham,  near  Cambridge, 
and  devoted  himself  entirely  to  the  duties  of  his  office, 
at  Bury.  In  this  situation,  he  laboured  about  ten 
years;  and  while  he  conscientiously  avoided  such 
ceremonies  as  appeared  to  him  wrong,  he  conformed 
to  such  as  he  thought  he  innocently  could.  But  when 
"  The  Book  of  Sports^''  came  out,  and  was  enforced 
by  the  authority  of  bishop  Wren,  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  take  a  firmer  stand  against  such  profane 
innovations,  and  resolved  to  avow  his  dissent;  and 
publicly  apologized  to  his  flock  for  conforming  as  far 
as  he  had  done.  The  consequence  was,  that  he  and 
about  thirty  others  were  expelled  from  the  diocese.  He 
now  became  distinguished  as  a  determined  non-con- 
formist; and,  on  account  of  his  abilities  and  zeal,  was 
held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who- found  it  necessary,  in 
order  to  keep  a  good  conscience,  to  take  the  same 
ground.  Being  much  in  favour  with  the  Earl  of 
Essex,  this  nobleman  presented  him  with  the  living 
of  Rachford;  but  it  proved  a  destructive  benefit;  for, 
removing  from  the  salubrious  air  of  Bury,  to  the 
sickly  marshes  of  Essex,  he  lost  his  health,  and  in 
fact  broke  his  constitution;  for  ever  afterwards  he 
was  afflicted  with  a  distressing  dizziness  of  the  head. 

In  the  year  1639,  Mr.  Calamy  was  chosen  minister 


216 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


of  Mary-Aldermanbury,  in  London,  where  he  soon 
rose  very  high  in  reputation,  as  a  preacher.  He  now 
became  conspicuous  for  tlie  active  part  which  he 
took  in  the  disputes  then  agitated,  about  church  gov- 
ernment. He  was  one  of  the  writers  of  the  famous 
book  entitled  "  Smectymnuus,"  each  of  the. letters  pf 
which  word  was  the  initial  of  the  Christia;n  surname 
of  a  person  who  had  some  hand  in  its  composition. 
This  work,  it  was  the  opinion  of  many,  gave  a  fatal 
blow  to  Episcopacy  in  England.  The  writers  were, 
Stephen  Marshall,  Edmund  Calamy,  Thomas  Young, 
Matthew  Newcomen,  and  William  Spurstow.  To 
this  wo'rk  bishop  Hall  wrote  an  answer,  or  rather, 
"A  Vindication,"  of  his  *' Humble  Remonstrance," 
in  answer  to  Smectymnuus.  The  authors  were  not 
slow  in  publishing  a  reply.  The  learned  Usher  also 
attempted  an  answer,  and  met  with  a  powerful  an- 
tagonist in  John  Milton,  who  at  that  time  sided  with 
the  Puritans  and  Presbyterians.  His  reply  was  enti- 
tled, "  Prelatical  Episcopacy,  whether  it  maybe  de- 
duced from  the  apostles'  times,  by  virtue  of  those 
testimonies  which  are  alleged  to  that  purpose,  in 
some  late  treatises;  one  whereof  goes  under  the 
name  of  James  Lord  Bishop  of  Armagh."  The  work 
by  Smectymnuus,  has  always  been  reckoned  an  able 
work.  Dr.  Wilkins  speaks  of  it  in  his  Ecclesiastes, 
as  an  able  work  against  Episcopacy.  And  both  Neal 
and  Dr.  Calamy  represent  it  as  among  the  best  things 
on  this  controversy, 

Mr.  Calamy  was  eminently  distinguished  for  his 
intrepid  integrity,  his  solid  learning,  his  genuine  piety, 
and  ministerial  fidelity.  He  was  just  such  a  man  as 
suited  the  metropolis,  where  his  influence  was  power- 
ful, and  his  usefulness  great.  His  mind  was  enlarged 
and  his  views  benevolent;  for  he  made  vigorous  ef- 
forts for  the  promotion  of  knowledge  and  piety,  for 
overthrowing  error,  and  propagating  truth.  In  1641, 
he  was  chosen  by  the  House  of  Lords,  a  member  of 
the  sub-committee  for  accommodating  ecclesiastical 
matters;  which  consisted  of  a  number  of  eminent 
divines.     Mr.  Calamy  gave  a  striking  example  of  his 


WESTIMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


217 


public  spirit  and  tender  compassion  for  the  distressed, 
in  another  country,  in  the  case  of  the  Irish  Protest- 
ants, after  the  cruel  massacre  on  St.  Bartholomew's 
day,  1641,  by  exerting  all  his  influence  and  eloquence 
to  obtain  a  liberal  contribution  to  supply  their  pressing 
wants.  And  so  successful  w^ere  his  efforts,  in  his  own 
charge,  that  between  six  and  seven  hundred  pounds 
sterling  were  taken  up  in  that  single  parish;  \yhich, 
for  those  times,  was  an  extraordinary  contribution. 

Being  chosen  to  sit  in  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  to 
meet  at  Westmnister,  he  was  an  active  and  influential 
member  during  the  whole  of  their  sessions.  In  the 
long  dispute  which  occurred,  about  the  divine  nght 
of  the  otfice  of  ruling  elders,  when  so  many  eminent 
men  opposed  it  with  zeal  and  much  learning,  Mr. 
Calamy  defended  the  scriptural  authority  of  the  office 
by  bold  and  powerful  arguments;  and  by  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Scottish  commissioners  and  some  others, 
a  large  majority  of  the  Assembly  were  brought  to 
vote  in  favour  of  having  ruling  elders  in  the  churches, 
not  only  as  a  matter  of  convenience,  but  by  divine 
appointment. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  popular  preachers  in  Lon- 
don; and  it  is  probable  that  no  man  possessed  a 
greater  influence  in  the  city.  He  seems  also  to  have 
been  a  favourite  with  the  Long  Parliament,  as  they 
invited  him  so  often  to  preach  before  them.  He  is 
said,  by  Wood,  to  have  been  the  first  who  openly 
avowed  before  a  committee  of  Parliament,  that  bish- 
ops, according  to  the  Scriptures,  were  not  superior  to 
presbyters.  His  audience  at  Aldermanbury  was  very 
large  and  very  respectable;  seldom  fewer  than  sixty 
coaches  frequented  the  church  where  he  preached.  He 
was  one  of  those  London  ministers  who  remonstrated 
against  the  measures  of  the  army,  by  which  they 
meant  to  bring  the  king  to  capital  punishment.  This 
event  he  earnestly  deprecated;  and,  to  prevent  it,  he 
and  some  other  ministers  held  several  conferences 
with  the  general  and  his  council,  in  which  they  ex- 
postulated in  the  same  bold  and  earnest  manner  in 


218 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


which  they  afterwards  did  in  their  written  protesta- 
tion. 

When  Cromwell  usurped  the  reins  of  government, 
and  carried  every  thing  with  a  high  hand,  and  in  an 
arbitrary  manner,  Calamy  kept  himself  for  the  most 
part  quiet,  but  sometimes  he  came  out  and  opposed 
the  Protector's  measures.  Cromwell  having  formed 
the  design  of  placing  the  crown  on  his  own  head, 
sent  for  some  eminent  divines,  that  he  might  hear 
their  opinion.  Among  these  was  Mr.  Calamy,  who 
opposed  the  measure  as  both  unlawful  and  imprac- 
ticable. Cromwell  promptly  answered,  that  whatever 
the  safety  of  the  nation  required,  was  lawful:  ''but, 
Mr.  Calamy,"  said  lie,  "why  is  it  impracticable?" 
'•Because,"  answered  he,  "  nine-tenths  of  the  people 
are  against  you."  "But,"  said  the  Protector,  "what 
if  I  disarm  I  he  nine,  and  put  a  sword  into  the  hands 
of  every  tenth  man  ;  would  not  this  do  the  business?" 
He  was  uniformly  and  zealously  opposed  to  the  sec- 
taries, who  swarmed  in  the  country  during  Crom- 
well's usurpation. 

Calamy  was  a  bold  man,  and  would  speak  his 
mind  before  the  greatest  men.  An  instance  is  re- 
lated, in  relation  to  General  Monk,  whom  he,  with 
others,  had  encouraged  to  bring  back  the  king,  but 
whose  conduct  and  motives  he  afterwards  held  in 
great  detestation.  Some  time  after  the  restoration  of 
the  king.  lie  was  preaching  in  his  place,  when  Monk 
was  present.  The  Subject  was  one  which  led  him  to 
speak  of  ^////y /e^cre.  "And  why,"  said  he,  "is  it 
called, /?///i7/.?  Because  it  makes  some  men  do  base 
and  ^///^y  things.  Some  men  will  betray  three  king- 
doms {ox  fill hy  lucre;''^  and  brandishing  his  handker- 
chief, either  by  accident  or  design,  it  liew  out  of  his 
hand  in  the  direction  where  Monk  was  sitting.  Mr. 
Calamy  had  much  hand  in  bringing  back  the  king; 
yet  he  soon  was  convinced  tliat  this  should  not  have 
been  done  without  first  having  every  thing  settled 
by  treaty.  The  Presbyterians,  in  this  thing,  made 
a  fatal  mistake;  for  they  had  every  thing   in  their 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  219 

hands,  and  might  have  prescribed  their  own  terms; 
but  they,  with  childish  simpUcity,  trusted  every  thing 
to  his  majesty's  word,  and  to  his  gratitude;  by  both 
which  they  were  egregiously  deceived. 

When  a  deputation  was  sent  over  to  Holland  to  meet 
the  king,  Mr.  Calamy  was  selected  as  one  of  the  min- 
isters proper  to  be  sent  on  such  an  embassy;  for  he 
was  reckoned  to  have  the  greatest  interest  at  court, 
city,  and  country.  At  first  he  was  much  caressed; 
but  he  soon  saw  the  design  and  tendency  of  things. 
He  was  appointed  chaplain  to  the  king,  but  was 
never  permitted,  more  than  once,  to  preach  before 
his  majesty.  But  he  had  free  access  to  the  king,  and 
conversed  freely  with  him  concerning  the  affairs  of 
church  and  state.  He  had  a  principal  hand  in  draw- 
ing up  the  proposals,  which  were  laid  before  the 
king,  respecting  church  government,  and  which  led 
to  the  Savoy-conference;  and  being  appointed  one  of 
the  commissioners,  he  was  employed,  with  others,  in 
drawing  up  exceptions  to  the  liturgy.  And  also, 
the  reply  to  the  reasons  of  the  Episcopal  Divines, 
against  the  Exceptions,  which  were  given  in  by  the 
Presbyterians,  at  the  conference.  He  also  was  con- 
cerned in  preparing  the  petition  of  peace,  which  was 
composed  in  a  very  moving  strain,  but  not  duly  con- 
sidered. The  unsuccessful  issue  of  the  Savoy-con- 
ference is  too  well  known  to  require  to  be  repeated 
here.  He  was  selected  by  his  brethren  in  London  to 
represent  them  in  the  Convocation,  but  was  not  per- 
mitted to  take  his  seat.  Foreseeing  what  was  coming, 
he  preached  on  the  17ih  of  August,  1662,  his  farewell 
sermon,  just  a  week  before  the  act  of  uniformity  went 
into  force.  His  text  on  that  occasion  was,  2  Sam. 
XXXV.  14:  "And  David  said  unto  God,  I  am  in  a 
great  strait:  let  us  now  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Lord,  for  his  mercies  are  great,  and.  let  me  not  fall 
into  the  hands  of  men.'' 

The  Presbyterian  ministers,  in  and  about  London, 
who  had  a  decisive  influence  in  restoring  the  king, 
now  found  themselves  in  a  truly  deplorable  condition, 
just  about  to  be  deprived  of  the  means  of  support, 


220 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


and  what  seemed  to  them  more  intolerable,  precluded 
from  any  further  exercise  of  their  ministry.  Under 
these  painful  circumstances,  it  was  determined  to 
make  one  more  appeal  to  the  compassion  of  the  king. 
Accordingly,  a  petion  was  drawn  up,  in  the  following 
words: 

"To  the  King's  most  Excellent  Majesty.     The  hum- 
ble petition  of  several  ministers  in  your  city  of 
London. 
"May  it  please  your  most  Excellent  Majesty — 

"Upon  former  experience  of  your  Majesty's  ten- 
derness and  indulgence  to  your  obedient  and  loyal 
subjects,  (in  which  number  we  can  with  all  clearness 
reckon  ourselves,)  we,  some  of  the  ministers  within 
your  city  of  London,  who  are  likely,  by  the  late  Act 
of  Uniformity,  to  be  cast  out  of  all  public  service  in 
the  ministry,  because  we  cannot  in  conscience  con- 
form to  all  things  in  the  said  act,  have  taken  the 
boldness,  humbly  to  cast  ourselves  and  concernments 
at  your  Majesty's  feet,  desiring  that  of  your  princely 
wisdom  and  compassion,  you  would  take  some  effec- 
tual course,  whereby  we  may  be  continued  in  the 
exercise  of  our  ministry,  to  lead  your  people  in  obe- 
dience to  God  and  your  Majesty.  And  we  doubt 
not,  but  by  our  dutiful  and  peaceable  carriage  there- 
in, we  shall  render  ourselves  not  altogether  unworthy 
of  so  great  a  favour." 

This  petition  was  presented  to  his  majesty  just 
three  days  after  the  Act  of  Uniformity  went  into 
force,  by  Mr.  Calamy,  Dr.  Manton,  Mr.  Bates,  and 
others.  Mr.  Calamy  made  a  speech  on  the  occasion, 
intimating  that  those  of  his  persuasion  were  ready  to 
enter  the  lists  with  any,  for  their  fidelity  to  his  ma- 
jesty; and  did  little  expect  to  be  dealt  with  as  they 
had  been;  and  they  were  now  come  to  his  majesty's 
feet,  as  the  last  supplication  they  should  make,  &c. 
The  king  promised  to  take  the  matter  into  considera- 
tion. His  majesty,  when  the  matter  came  before  his 
council,  declared  his  resolution  to  grant  some  indul- 
gence, if  it  could  be  feasibly  done;  but  bishop  Shel- 
don, in  a  speech  of  great  warmth,  declared,  that  it 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  221 

was  now  too  late  to  think  of  suspending  the  law; 
and  that  he  had  already  ejected  such  of  his  clergy  as 
refused  to  confornri;  and  should  they  now  be  restored 
by  the  king,  after  being  so  much  exasperated  against 
him,  he  could  never  hope  to  govern  his  diocese;  for 
his  clergy,  as  feeling  that  they  were  countenanced  by 
the  court,  would  not  fail  to  insult  him.  "  Should  the 
law  now  be  suspended,"  said  he,  "it  would  render 
the  legislature  ridiculous  and  contemptible.  And  if 
the  importunity  of  such  disaffected  people  were  a 
sutiicient  reason  to  humour  them,  neither  the  church 
nor  the  state  would  ever  be  free  from  distractions  and 
convulsions.  So  it  was  carried  in  the  council,  that  no 
indulgence  should  be  granted. 

Thus  the  celebrated,  learned,  and  pious  Mr.  Cala- 
my  was  cast  out  from  Aldermanbury,  by  the  Act  of 
Uniformity.  He  was  offered  a  bishoprick,  which  he 
refused,  because  he  could  not  have  it  on  such  terms 
as  he  could  accept;  and  he  considered  several  things 
in  conformity,  as  heinous  sins;  and  therefore  he  could 
not  comply.  He  preserved  his  moderation  and  deco- 
rum of  beliaviour,  after  his  ejectment,  and  lived  very 
much  in  retirement.  On  a  certain  day,  he  went  to 
the  church  of  Aldermanbury,  where  he  expected  to 
be  a  hearer;  but  the  minister  failing  to  come,  to  pre- 
vent a  disappointment,  and  in  compliance  with  the 
importunity  of  the  people,  he  arose  and  preached  to 
them  from  1  Sam.  iv.  1.3,  respecting  old  Eli's  care 
for  the  ark.  This  sermon,  though  entirely  extempore, 
was  afterwards  written  and  published.  For  this 
breach  of  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  Mr.  Calamy  was 
prosecuted,  and  by  the  warrant  of  the  Lord  Mayor, 
was  imprisoned  in  Newgate.  But  in  his  affliction,  he 
was  not  forsaken  by  his  friends.  A  lady  passing  one 
day  by  Newgate,  while  he  was  in  confinement,  could 
with  difficulty  make  her  way  through  many  coaches 
collected  there.  This  lady,  who  was  a  Roman  Catho- 
Hc,  inquired  why  there  was  such  a  collection  of  peo- 
ple, at  such  a  place,  and  was  informed  that  a  certain 
Mr.  Calamy,  a  person  much  beloved  and  respected, 
had   been  imprisoned  there  for  preaching   a  single 


222  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

sermon.  This  so  struck  the  lady,  that  she  took  the 
first  opportunity  of  waiting  on  the  king,  and  related 
all  the  circumstances;  and  expressed  her  apprehen- 
sions lest  he  should  lose  the  affections  of  many  of  his 
good  people  of  London,  in  consequence  of  the  impri- 
sonment of  this  popular  minister.  This,  together  with 
the  general  indignation  expressed,  is  thought  to  have 
been  the  occasion  of  his  speedy  release,  by  the  ex- 
press orders  of  the  king.  Such,  however,  was  the 
spirit  of  the  new  Parliament,  that  a  complaint  was 
made  of  this  act  of  clemency;  upon  which  it  was 
represented  that  there  was  a  defect  in  the  law,  which 
did  not  provide  for  a  longer  confinement.  A  com- 
mittee was  therefore  appointed,  to  consider  the  de- 
fects of  the  law,  and  report  such  amendments  as  the 
case  demanded.  And  from  this  time  no  indulgence 
was  shown  to  any  non-conformist  minister. 

Mr.  Calamy  lived  to  see  those  heavy  judgments 
which,  in  the  righteous  providence  of  God,  fell  upon 
the  devoted  city  in  which  he  was  born,  and  where  he 
had  spent  so  many  years  in  faithfully  preaching  the 
gospel.  The  great  fire,  which  consumed  so  large  a 
part  of  London,  took  place  in  1666,  when  thirteen  thou- 
sand houses  were  burned,  and  eighty-nine  churches. 
This  awful  conflagration  affected  Calamy's  feelings 
exceedingly,  and  is  said,  indeed,  to  have  broken  his 
heart;  for  he  survived  the  catastrophe  but  a  little 
time.  Being  driven  in  a  coach  to  survey  the  ruins 
which  the  fire  had  made,  when  he  returned  home  he 
retired  to  his  chamber,  from  which  he  never  came 
out  alive,  but  died  within  a  month,  in  October,  1666, 
and  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age. 

The  character  of  Edmund  Calamy  will  be  suffi- 
ciently understood,  from  the  preceding  memoir.  No 
minister  of  his  time  was  more  popular;  and  none  had 
more  energy  and  public  spirit,  together  with  a  fear- 
less boldness  in  declaring  his  sentiments,  and  going 
forward  in  the  path  which  conscience  directed.  He 
may  well  be  considered  the  leader  of  the  Presbyterian 
party;  their  confidence  in  his  courage,  prudence,  and 
integrity,  was  unbounded;  and  they  manifested  their 


WESTMINSTER     ASSEMBLY.  2*23 

estimation  of  his  talents  and  address,  by  generally 
making  him  their  chairman,  at  all  their  meetings. 

Mr.  Calamy  lived  too  much  in  active  life,  to  have 
much  leisure  for  writing  books.  His  talents,  too, 
were  more  of  the  active  than  the  contemplative  kind; 
but  he  has  left  writings  enough  to  show  that  he  was 
capable  of  writing  with  great  force  and  ingenuity. 

Besides  Smectymnuus,  in  which  he  had  his  full 
share,  Mr.  Calamy  assisted  in  drawing  up  "  The  Vin- 
dication of  the  Presbyterian  Government  and  Minis- 
try," 1650;  and  also  the  "Jus  Divinum  Ministerii 
Evangelici  and  Anglicani,''  in  1654. 

His  other  works  are  sermons,  of  which  the  follow- 
ing are  the  titles: 

1.  England's  Looking  Glass.  Jer.  xviii.  7 — 10. 
Preached  before  the  House  of  Commons,  December 
22,  1641. 

2.  God's  Free  Mercy  to  England.  Ezek.  xxxvi. 
32.  Also  before  the  Commons,  on  a  Fast,  February 
22,  1642. 

3.  The  Nobleman's  Pattern  of  True  and  Real 
Thankfulness,  from  Job  xxiv.  15.  A  Thanksgiving 
Sermon,  before  the  House  of  Lords,  June  15,  1643. 

4.  England's  Antidote  against  the  Plague  of  Civil 
War,  from  Acts  xvii.  20.  Before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, on  a  solemn  Fast,  October  22,  1644. 

5.  An  Lidictnient  against  England,  because  of  her 
Self-murdering  Divisions;  with  an  Exhortation  to 
Concord,  from  Matt.  xii.  25.  Before  the  House  of 
Lords,  on  the  Monthly  Fast,  December  25,  1644. 

6.  The  Great  Danger  of  Covenant-refusing  and 
Covenant-breaking,  from  2  Tim.  iii.  3.,  January  24, 
1646.  Before  the  Lord  Mayor,  with  the  Sherifl; 
Aldermen,  and  Common  Council. 

7.  The  Door  of  Truth  Opened,  against  the  Invec- 
tives of  Mr.  Burton.   1646. 

8.  The  Saints'  Rest,  or  their  Happy  Sleep  in  Death, 
from  Acts  vii.  50,  August  24,  1651,  next  Sabbath 
after  Mr.  Love's  execution. 

9.  The  Doctrine  of  the  Body's  Fragility.  Phil.  iii. 
21.     At  the  funeral  of  Dr.  Samuel  Bolton,  1655. 


224 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


10.  The  Monster  of  Sinful  Self-seeking,  Anato- 
mized, together  with  a  Description  of  the  Blessed 
and  Heavenly  Self-seeking. 

11.  A  Sermon  at  tlie  Funeral  of  the  Earl  of  War- 
wick, 1658. 

12.  A  Sermon  from  Isaiah  Ivii.  1,  at  the  funeral  of 
Mr.  Ashe. 

13.  The  Godly  Man's  Ark,  or  City  of  Refuge,  in 
the  Day  of  his  Distress.  This  is  a  small  book  con- 
taining five  sermons,  from  Psalm  cxix.  92. 

14.  A  Sermon  at  the  Morning  Exercise.  Acts 
xxvi.  8. 

Mr.  Calamy's  eldest  son  was  ejected  from  More- 
ton,  by  the  Act  of  Uniformity. 

Carter,  Thomas. — A  member  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly  of  divines,  was  minister  of  Dynlon,  in 
Buckinghamshire.  He  preached  a  sermon  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  from  Exod.  xxxii.  9,  10.,  wliich 
is  entitled,  *' Prayer's  Prevalence  for  Israel's  Safety." 
There  are  no  other  memorials  of  this  divine. 

Carter,  William. — A  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster,  was  educated  in  Cam- 
bridge, and  afterwards  became  a  very  popular 
preacher  in  London. 

Though  a  young  man,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  of  Divines,  and  in  that  body,  agreed  in 
opinion  with  those  who  insisted  that  besides  a  pastor, 
every  well  organized  church  should  have  a  doctor  or 
teacher.  After  some  time  he  joined  the  Independ- 
ents, or  dissenting  brethren  in  the  Assembly.  Mr. 
Carter  had  numerous  invitations  to  settle  in  the  min- 
istry, but  he  declined  them  all,  because  he  was  not 
satisfied  with  the  parochial  discipline  of  those  tmies; 
nevertheless  he  was  a  most  laborious,  and  zealous 
preacher  of  the  gospel.  Besides  preaching  twice,  on 
the  Lord's  day,  he  attended  frequent  weekly  lectures, 
and  was  often  called  on  for  occasional  sermons.  Mr. 
Carter  finished  his  earthly  course  in  the  year  1658, 
and  in  the  53d  year  of  his  age. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  225 

The  only  sermon  of  his,  which  has  been  published, 
was  entitled  ^' Light  in  Darkness,"  preached  before 
the  House  of  Commons,  from  Psalm  Ixv.  5.;  on  the 
solemn  fast  of  November  24,  1647. 

Caryl,  Joseph,  M.  A.,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Lon- 
don, in  1602.  His  parents  were  persons  of  respecta- 
bility, and  when  he  was  prepared,  sent  him  to  Exeter 
College,  Oxford.  There  he  had  the  advantage  of  a 
good  tutor,  and  became  a  noted  disputant.  Li  1627, 
he  proceeded  Master  of  Arts;  about  which  time  he 
entered  into  holy  orders,  and  for  a  while  preached 
about  Oxford.  He  then  removed  to  London,  where 
he  was  preacher  to  the  society  of  Lincoln's  Inn.  In 
1643,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines,  at  Westminster,  and  became  a  t^equent 
preacher  before  the  Long  Parliament.  In  1645,  he 
was  presented  to  the  living  of  Magnus,  in  London, 
which  he  held  until  the  restoration,  when  he  was 
ejected. 

Mr.  Caryl  was  appointed  several  times  by  the  Par- 
liament, to  attend  on  Charles  I.  In  January,  1646,  he, 
and  StephenMarshall,were  nominated  chaplains  to  the 
commissioners  sent  to  the  king  at  Newcastle,  to  en- 
deavour to  bring  about  a  reconciliation.  The  king, 
however,  would  not  hear  either  of  them  preach,  nor 
so  much  as  permit  them  to  ask  a  blessing  at  his  table. 
He  also  attended  the  commissioners  sent  to  the  king 
in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  in  1648.  He  was  one  of  those 
appointed  to  wait  on  the  king,  and  afford  him  spiritual 
consolation  just  before  his  death,  but  the  king  declined 
their  services. 

In  1649,  Mr.  Caryl,  Mr.  Nye,  and,  Mr.  Marshall, 
were  sent  to  invite  the  excluded  members  to  resume 
their  places  in  Parliament;  and  in  1650,  he,  with  John 
Owen,  accompanied  Oliver  Cromwell  to  Scotland.  In 
1653,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Triers  of  Ministers, 
and  the  next  year,  an  assistant  to  the  commissioners 
appointed  for  displacing  ignorant  and  scandalous  min- 
isters. 

Mr.  Caryl  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  In- 
15 


226 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


dependent  Divines  who  met  at  the  Savoy,  A.  D.  1658, 
to  draw  up  a  uniform  confession  of  their  faith.  In 
1659,  he  accompanied  General  Whalley,  and  Col. 
Goffe,  into  Scotland,  to  acquaint  General  Monk  with 
the  true  state  of  affairs  in  England. 

After  his  ejectment,  1662,  Mr.  Caryl  gathered  a 
separate  congregation,  from  among  his  former  hear- 
ers, to  whom  he  preached  until  removed  by  death, 
February  7,  1672,  aged  seventy-one  years. 

The  following  account  of  his  death  was  given  at 
the  lime,  by  Mr.  Henry  Dorney,  in  a  letter  to  his 
brother:  "That  famous  and  laborious  minister,  Mr. 
Joseph  Caryl,  your  ancient  friend  and  companion,  is 
departed  this  life,  aged  seventy-one  years;  whose 
death  is  greatly  lamented  by  the  people  of  God, 
throughout  this  city.  About  the  beginning  of  his 
sickness,  I  was  with  him,  and  he  inquired  about  you 

as  he  was  wont  to  do His  labours  were  great,  his 

studies  incessant,  his  conversation  unspotted.  His 
sincerity,  faith,  zeal,  and  wisdom,  gave  a  fragrant 
smell  among  the  churches,  and  servants  of  Christ. 
His  sickness,  though  painful,  was  borne  with  patience, 
and  joy  in  believing.  And  so  he  departed  from  time 
to  eternity,  under  the  full  sail  of  desire,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Spirit.  He  lived  his  own  sermons.  He  did  at 
last  desire  his  friends  to  forbear  speaking  to  him,  that 
so  he  might  retire  to  himself,  which  time  they  per- 
ceived he  spent  in  prayer,  often  lifting  up  his  hands  a 
little;  and  at  length  his  friends  observing  that  they 
moved  no  more,  drew  near,  and  perceived  that  he 
had  silently  departed.'' 

Mr.  Caryl  was  a  moderate  Independent — a  very 
pious  and  humble  man. 

He  was  the  author  of  several  sermons,  but  his 
great  work  was  "A  Commentary  on  the  Book  of 
Job,"  in  two  large  folio  volumes.  It  has  also  been 
printed  in  twelve  volumes  quarto.  Though  this  work 
possesses  great  merit,  its  enormous  size  has  been  a 
great  obstruction  to  its  usefulness.  Pool's  Synopsis 
contains  (vol.  ii.)  a  good  abridgment  of  this  Com- 
mentary.   It  has  been  wittily  said,  that  this  book  is  a 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  227 

good  exercise  of  that  patience  which  the  book  of  Job 
was  intended  to  inculcate  and  exemplify. 

Case,  Thomas,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Kent, 
in  England,  and  was  the  son  of  a  clergyman.  His 
father,  the  Rev.  George  Case,  was  a  man  eminent 
for  piety  and  talents,  and  gave  his  son  a  truly  religi- 
ous education.  Under  this  pious  nurture  he  became 
a  sincere  convert,  it  is  believed,  in  very  early  life. 
One  evidence  which  he  gave  of  being  a  renewed  per- 
son, was  his  constancy  and  delight  in  prayer;  a  prac- 
tice which  he  spontaneously  took  up,  and  which  he 
conscientiously  observed,  evening  and  morning. 

When  of  a  suitable  age,  he  was  sent  to  school 
at  Canterbury;  and  afterward  to  Merchant-tailor's 
school  in  London.  When  properly  prepared,  he 
went  to  Oxford,  and  became  a  student  of  Christ's 
church,  in  his  seventeenth  year,  and  such  were  his 
industry  and  proficiency,  that  he  was  elected  student 
of  that  house  by  a  unanimous  vote,  by  the  dean  and 
canons. 

In  the  year  1623,  Mr.  Case  took  his  degree  of  A.  B. 
and  also  of  A.  M.  He  now  entered  into  the  minis- 
try, and  preached  for  a  while  in  his  native  county; 
but  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  called  to  Esping- 
ham,  in  Norfolk,  where  he  remained  eight  or  ten 
years.  He  was  not  only  a  diligent,  but  an  eminently 
successful  minister;  many  souls  were  converted  un- 
der his  ministry. 

By  the  persuasion  of  some  friends,  Mr.  Case  was 
induced  to  visit  London,  when  he  was  first  engaged 
in  a  lecture;  but  afterward  became  pastor  of  Mary 
Magdalene  church  in  Milk  street.  Here  he  laboured 
indefatigably  and  successfully.  So  many  people 
wished  "to  have  their  friends  who  were  in  the  Earl  of 
Essex's  army,  mentioned  in  the  public  prayers,  that 
there  was  neither  time  to  read  the  notes  put  up,  or  to 
refer  to  all  the  cases,  in  the  public  prayers;  it  was 
therefore  agreed,  among  several  ministers  in  London, 
to  appoint  an  earlier  hour  for  this  purpose,  which 
was  called  the   morning  exercise,  and   first   com- 


228  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

menced  in  Mr.  Case's  house  of  worship,  at  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  This  lecture  was  continued 
long  afterwards  among  the  Dissenters,  hut  its  form 
was  changed.  Mr.  Case,  besides  the  labours  of  the 
Sabbath,  kept  up  a  lecture  for  his  own  people,  every 
Saturday,  and  on  Thursday  at  Martins-in-the-fields, 
which  he  attended  for  twenty  years. 

Being  eminently  zealous  in  promoting  reformation, 
he  was  selected  as  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster;  and  was  often  called  upon  to 
preach  before  the  Parliament.  Mr.  Case  was  a  zeal- 
ous Covenanter,  as  appears  by  the  sermons  preached 
on  that  occasion. 

He  was  one  of  those  who  subscribed  the  two 
''Papers"  declaring  against  the  Parliament,  in  1648, 
when  they  were  taking  measures  to  bring  Charles  I. 
to  a  trial.  The  oaths  of  allegiance  were  now  abol- 
ished, and  "the  Engagement''  was  substituted  for  it, 
which  was  an  oath  "  to  be  true  and  faithful  to  the 
government  established  without  king  or  peers."  This 
Mr.  Case  refused,  and  was  therefore  thrust  out  of  his 
place  as  pastor  in  Milk  street.  But  he  was  not  left 
•without  employment,  for  he  was  soon  invited  to  be 
lecturer  at  Aldermanbury  and  Giles',  Cripplegate ;  and 
continued  to  preach  faithfully,  until  being  involved 
in  Mr.  Love's  case,  he  was  sent  to  the  tower.  This  im- 
prisonment lasted  for  six  months,  during  which  time, 
he  composed  some  useful  discourses  or  meditations, 
entitled  "  Correction  and  Instruction."  After  his  re- 
lease, he  was  invited  to  be  lecturer  at  St.  Giles, 
where  he  remained  until  the  restoration  of  Charles  11. 
when  the  former  incumbent  took  the  place.  In  1661 
he  was  at  the  Savoy  conference,  and  in  1662,  was 
silenced  for  non-conformity. 

Mr.  Case  was  blessed  with  a  help-meet  that  suited 
him;  a  wife  of  eminent  prudence  and  piety,  with 
whom  he  long  lived  in  sweet  harmony,  having  no 
contention,  but  who  should  love  the  other  most  ten- 
derly. He  had  no  children  of  his  own;  but  was  very 
affectionate  to  those  of  his  wife  by  a  former  husband. 
He  took  much  pains  to  instruct  his  domestics;  so  that 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  229 

many  had  reason  to  bless  God,  that  they  ever  came 
under  his  roof.  He  died  in  a  good  old  age,  in  the 
year  lt3S2,  being  eighty-four  years  of  age.  His  Hfe 
was  holy  and  his  death  easy.  He  endured  no  pain, 
suffered  no  agony,  but  gently  fell  asleep  in  the  Lord. 
Rising  from  dinner,  he  lay  down  to  take  some  repose 
on  his  bed,  where  he  "  gathered  up  his  feet,  and  so 
yielded  up  the  ghost,  and  was  gathered  to  his  peo- 
ple.'^ Such  a  death  he  had  desired,  and  often  prayed 
for,  and  his  request  was  granted.  He  was  buried  in 
Christ  church,  within  Newgate,  and  a  large  white 
stone  was  placed  over  his  grave,  just  below  the  steps 
leading  to  the  altar,  on  which  was  the  following  in- 
scription: ''Here  sweetly  sleeps  Thomas  Case,  a 
MOST  faithful  MINISTER  OF  Jesus  Christ,  an  ex- 
cellent preacher  in  this  city  and  elsewhere,  for  many 
years.  Educated  in  Ch?nst  church,  Oxford,  in  this 
church  of  Christ  at  last  buried.  He  died  30th  of 
May,  in  the  year  of  his  age  84,  and  of  Our  Lord 
1682. 

He  lived  longer  than  any  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines,  who  continued  among  the  Dissenters, 

He  was  a  man  of  good  abilities,  of  sound  judg- 
ment, of  quick  invention,  of  a  warm  temper,  and  of 
steady  principles.  He  was,  in  short,  an  open,  plain- 
hearted  man;  an  ardent  lover  of  God,  and  benevo- 
lent towards  men.  He  was  heavenly  minded,  chari- 
table, and  of  a  broken  and  contrite  spirit.  He  was 
an  excellent  textuary,  and  possessed  an  extraordinary 
gift  in  prayer,  and  was  throughout  his  whole  course, 
a  diligent  and  successful  labourer  in  the  Lord's  vine- 
yard. In  doctrine,  Mr.  Case  was  a  consistent  and 
strict  Calvinist. 

Mr.  Case's  published  writings  are: 

1.  Two  Sermons  before  the  House  of  Commons. 

2.  Several  Sermons  preached  at  Milk  street. 

3.  A  Sermon  from  Daniel  xi.  32.,  before  House  of 
Commons. 

4.  A  Sermon  from  2  Chron.  xix.  6,  7. 

5.  Three  Sermons  on  Covenanting. 

6.  A  Thanksgiving  Sermon  before  the  Commons. 


230  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

7.  A  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Lords,  from 
Exod.  V.  22,  23. 

8.  A  Thanksgiving  Sermon  before  the  Commons. 

9.  A  Fast  Sermon  before  do.  Hos.  ix.  1. 
10.  A  Funeral  Sermon,  1  Cor.  i.  29 — 31. 
11   Several  other  Funeral  Discourses. 

12.  A  Treatise  on  Afflictions. 

13.  Imitation  of  the  Saints,  &c. 

14.  Mount  Pisgah,  or  a  Prospect  of  Heaven. 

Cawdrey,  Daniel,  was  the  son  of  a  non-conform- 
ist, who  suffered  much  for  conscience  sake.  He  was 
the  youngest  of  a  number  of  sons,  and  was  educated 
at  Cambridge,  in  Peter-House.  But  although  he  was 
a  distinguished  man  in  his  day,  yet  there  are  extant 
few  memorials  from  which  can  be  derived  any  satis- 
factory account  of  his  life.  Dr.  Calamy  testifies,  that 
he  was  a  very  considerable  man,  eminently  learned, 
and  a  distinguished  member  of  the  Westminster  As- 
sembly of  Divines;  and  sometimes  preached  before 
the  Parliament. 

He  was  ejected  from  Great  Billing,  in  Northamp- 
tonshire, by  the  act  of  uniformity,  after  having  labo- 
riously and  faithfully  preached  to  his  people  for  thirty- 
six  or  thirty-seven  years.  He  removed  afterwards  to 
Wellingborough,  where  he  had  a  daughter  married. 
There  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  suffering 
under  the  pressure  of  disease  very  frequently,  until 
October,  1664,  when  he  fell  asleep  in  the  Lord,  when 
he  had  nearly  completed  his  seventy-sixth  year. 

Mr.  Cawdrey's  published  writings: 

1.  Humility,  the  Saint's  Livery. 

2.  An  Assize  Sermon  at  Northampton. 

3.  Superstitio  Superstes. 

4.  The  Good  Man  a  Public  Good. 

5.  Vindicise  Clavium. 

6.  The  Inconsistency  of  Independency  with  Scrip- 
ture. 

7.  Sabbatum  Redivivum.  "The  Christian  Sab- 
bath Vindicated. ^^ 

8.  Independency  a  Great  Schism. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  231 

9.  A  Diatribe  against  Dr.  Hammond. 

10.  A  Vindication  of  the  Diatribe. 

11.  A  SoberAnswer  to  a  Serious  Question.  Against 
Giles  Firmin. 

12.  A  Sermon  at  St.  Paul's,  July  1,  1655. 

13.  Self  Examination  for  the  Lord's  Supper. 

14.  Family  Reformation  Promoted. 

15.  Church  Reformation  Promoted. 

16.  Bowing  to  or  toward  the  Altar  Superstitious. 

17.  An  Essay  against  Usury. 

18.  The  Grand  Case.  With  reference  to  the  New 
Conformity. 

Chambers,Humphrey,D.D.5  was  born  in  Somerset, 
England,  and  was  educated  at  University  College, 
Oxford,  where  he  became  a  commoner  in  1614,  when 
only  fifteen  years  of  age.  After  taking  his  degrees  in 
the  arts,  he  entered  into  orders,  and  became  the  rector 
of  Claverton,  in  his  own  native  county.  He  now 
took  the  degree  of  B.  D.,  and  was  highly  esteemed  as 
a  sound  theologian,  by  the  neighbouring  ministers. 
He  was  silenced  by  bishop  Pierce  for  preaching  up 
the  morality  of  the  Sabbath;  on  which  occasion  he 
manifested  a  truly  Christian  courage.  His  fidelity  in 
adhering  to  the  truth,  exposed  him  to  much  trouble 
and  persecution.  He  suffered  two  years'  imprison- 
ment under  the  spiritual  tyranny  of  archbishop  Laud. 
Mr.  Chambers  was  a  man  of  a  most  self-denying  and 
disinterested  spirit,  and  was  entirely  devoted  to  the 
honour  of  his  blessed  Master. 

When  the  civil  wars  broke  out,  Mr.  Chambers  took 
part  with  the  Parliament,  and  maintained  a  man  and  a 
horse,  at  his  own  expense,  for  the  public  service.  He 
took  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and  was  ap- 
pointed a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  at 
Westminster.  He  was  one  of  the  three  who  preached 
before  Parliament,  1644,  and  also  before  the  House 
of  Lords  October  22,  in  the  same  year.  He  was 
made  rector  of  Pewsey  in  1648;  about  which  time  he 
commenced  Doctor  of  Divinity.  His  wife  was  the 
daughter  of  the  eminently  learned  Dr.  Brett,  who  was 


232 


BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


appointed  by  king  James,  one  of  the  translators  of  the 
Bible  into  English. 

Dr.  Chambers  was  an  assistant  to  the  commission- 
ers who  were  appointed  by  Cromwell  for  the  ejection 
of  scandalous  and  incompetent  ministers.  In  the  case 
of  one  ejected  for  drunkenness,  profaning  the  Sab- 
bath, &c..  Dr.  Chambers  was  much  abused  in  a  pam- 
phlet, but  he  vindicated  himself  in  an  answer. 

After  the  restoration,  he  continued  in  his  place  until 
the  act  of  uniformity  was  carried  into  effect,  when  he 
preached  his  farewell  sermon,  went  home,  and  almost 
immediately  died,  September  8,  1662.  He  was  buried 
in  the  church  of  Pewsey,  of  which  he  had  been  the 
rector. 

Dr.  Cham.bers'  writings: 

1.  Some  Sermons,  before  Parliament,  &c. 

2.  A  Funeral  Sermon,  for  Mr.  John  Grayle. 

3.  Animadversions  on  William  Dell's  book. 

4.  An  Apology  for  the  Ministers  of  Wilts. 

5.  An  Answer  to  Mr.  Walter  Bushnell. 

Cheynell,  Francis,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Oxford  J  in  the  year  1608.  His  father  was  a  very 
eminent  physician,  and  took  care  that  his  son  should 
receive  a  good  education.  He  entered  the  University 
of  Oxford,  1623,  and  after  taking  his  bachelor's  de- 
gree, he  was  elected  a  fellow  of  Merton  College,  and 
took  orders.  For  some  time  he  was  a  curate  in  the 
vicinity  of  Oxford.  After  taking  the  degree  of  B.  D. 
he  was  presented  with  a  rich  living,  near  Banbury. 
While  here  he  had  some  dispute  with  Laud. 

Mr.  Cheynell  was  a  very  accomplished  scholar,  and 
yet  an  active  minister.  He  was  remarkable  for  sin- 
cerity. Whatever  he  believed  he  professed,  and  what- 
ever he  professed,  he  was  ready  to  defend.  He  was 
peculiarly  bold  in  the  cause  of  truth,  and  in  the  way 
of  duty.  In  a  sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons 
he  says,  "What  upon  prayer  and  study  God  hath  re- 
vealed, I  will  this  day  deliver  unto  you,  though  I 
were  sure  to  die  St.  John's  death,  or  to  be  banished 
into  St.  John's  island." 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  233 

In  the  civil  wars  he  took  sides  with  the  Parliament, 
and  was  much  in  the  army  with  the  earl  of  Essex, 
and  afterwards  with  the  earl  of  Cornwall,  and  dis- 
played always  an  undaunted  courage.  He  seems, 
indeed,  to  have  been  born  a  soldier,  for  he  possessed 
an  intrepidity  which  could  never  be  shaken  by  any 
danger,  and  a  spirit  of  enterprise  not  to  be  discour- 
aged by  any  difficulties.  These  noble  qualities  were 
also  accompanied  by  extraordinary  bodily  strength. 
Dr.  Calamy  relates  that  in  the  army,  his  commands 
would  be  as  readily  obeyed  by  the  Colonels,  as  if 
they  had  issued  from  the  General.  He  was  a  true 
patriot,  and  possessed  a  public  spirit,  which  led  him 
to  serve  his  country  with  all  his  might:  and  although 
he  had  it  in  his  power,  yet  he  never  accumulated 
wealth.  But  the  governing  principle  of  his  heart 
was,  ardent  love  to  the  Redeemer,  which  induced 
him  to  be  bold  in  his  cause,  and  to  offer  him  and  his 
benefits  to  the  sons  of  men. 

In  1643,  Dr.  Cheynell  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster.  While  in 
attendance  on  this  venerable  synod,  he  preached  fre- 
quently before  the  Parliament;  and  was  presented 
with  the  living  of  Pelworlh  in  Sussex,  worth  ^6700 
per  annum. 

He  took  the  covenant,  and  was  zealous  in  its  de- 
fence. He  was  one  of  the  select  committee  of  Parlia- 
ment, for  the  examination  of  applicants  for  seques- 
tered livings. 

Dr.  Cheynell  has  been  much  censured  for  his  be- 
havior at  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Chillingworth.  This  ex- 
traordinary man  having  renounced  popery,  wrote  a 
book,  entitled,  "The  Religion  of  Protestants  a  safe 
way  to  Salvation."  It  was  commonly  believed  that  he 
was  a  Socinian,but  by  his  last  letter,  at  the  end  of  his 
works,  he  appears  to  have  been  an  Arian.  Cheynell 
visited  him  in  his  last  sickness,  and  endeavoured  to 
prevail  with  him  to  renounce  his  dangerous  opinions; 
but  he  remained  obstinate.  He  prayed  fervently  for 
him,  and  engaged  others  to  do  the  same,  being  much 
grieved  at  liis  obstinate  adherence  to  the  errors  pub- 


234  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

lished  in'the  aforesaid  book.  At  the  funeral  of  Chil- 
lingworth,  he  acted  in  a  manner  so  extravagant,  that 
many  have  excused  him  on  the  ground  of  insanity; 
for  it  seems  that  he  was  occasionally  subject  to  parox- 
ysms of  this  malady.  When  the  body  was  interred, 
he  cast  the  book  above  mentioned  into  the  grave, 
saying,  "  Get  thee  gone,  thou  cursed  book,  which 
has  seduced  so  many  precious  souls.  Get  thee  gone, 
thou  corrupt  rotten  book:  earth  to  earth,  dust  to  dust — 
get  thee  gone  into  the  place  of  rottenness,  that  thou 
mayest  rot  with  thy  author  and  see  corruption." 

Dr.  Cheynell  was  one  of  those  divines  sent  by  the 
Parliament  to  the  treaty  of  Uxbridge.  He  was  also 
sent  to  Oxford,  with  seven  otiiers,  to  attempt  a  refor- 
mation in  that  University;  but  their  labours  wure  in- 
effectual. In  1647,  he  was  again  sent  to  Oxford,  as 
one  of  the  visiters  of  that  institution;  and  was  ap- 
poirUed  master  of  St.  John's  College,  and  Margaret 
professor  of  divinity  in  the  University.  But  it  was 
not  long  before  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  both  these 
places,  for  refusing  to  take  the  "engagement,"  as  it 
was  called.  He  retired,  therefore,  to  his  charge  in 
Petworth,  where  he  faithfully  fulfilled  the  duties  of 
his  office,  until  the  restoration,  when  he  was  ejected 
for  non-conforn:iity;  after  which  he  lived  privately  in 
a  little  village  near  Preston,  in  Sussex,  where  he  had 
an  estate,  and  where  he  died  in  the  year  1665. 

Dr.  Cheynell  is  allowed  to  have  been  a  man  of 
great  abilities,  and  extensive  learning.  He  was  also 
strictly  orthodox,  a  good  preacher,  and  able  disputant. 

Dr.  Cheynell's  published  works: 

1.  Zion's  Memento,  and  God's  Alarum;  a  sermon 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  from  Zech.  ii.  7;  May 
31,  1643. 

2.  The  Rise,  Growth,  and  Danger,  of  Socinianism. 
Ordered  to  be  printed  by  the  House  of  Commons. 

3.  Chillingivorthi Novissima.  "The  Sickness,  He- 
resy, Death,  and  Burial,  of  William  Chillingworth." 

4.  The  Man  of  Honour  Described.  A  sermon  be- 
fore the  House  of  Lords,  March  26,  1645.  Psalm 
xlix.  20. 


WEST3IIXSTER    ASSEMBLY.  235 

5.  A  Plot  for  the  Good  of  Posterity.  A  sermon 
from  Geti.  xviii.  19;  before  the  House  of  Commons, 
March  25,  1646. 

6.  Letters  to  Dr.  Mayne  concerning  false  Prophets. 

7.  Correspondence  with  Dr.  Hammond. 

8.  Disputation  with  Mr.  Erbury,  a  Socinian. 

9.  The  Divine  Triunity  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost. 

10.  A  Discussion  of  Mr.  Fry's  Tenets;  lately  con- 
demned in  Parliament;  and  Socinianism  proved  to  be 
an  Unchristian  Doctrine. 

Clarke,  Peter,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines, at  Westminster;  and  one  of  the  ejected  minis- 
ters under  the  fatal  Bartholomew  act,  was  born  at 
Beverly,  in  Yorkshire. 

In  early  life  he  was  distinguished  for  his  proficiency 
in  learning;  and  was  in  due  season  admitted  to  St. 
John's  College,  Cambridge;  of  which  he  afterwards 
became  a  fellow.  When  he  left  the  University  he 
was  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Carnaby,  where  his 
labours  were  both  acceptable  and  successful.  When 
the  civil  wars  commenced,  he  was  obliged  to  seek 
shelter  in  London,  and  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
Westminster  Assembly. 

After  his  ejectment  in  1662,  he  resided  with  his 
wife  and  four  children  in  Walkington,  near  Hull, 
where  he  possessed  a  handsome  patrimonial  estate. 
But  not  being  contented  to  lead  an  idle  life,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  important  business  of  teaching  youth; 
and  boarded  in  his  house  a  number  of  young  gentle- 
men, some  of  whom  were  afterwards  ornaments  and 
blessings  to  their  country.  In  this  situation  he  con- 
tinued until  the  time  of  his  death. 

It  is  not  known  that  Mr.  Clarke  ever  published  any 
of  his  writings. 

Cleyton,  Richard,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines,  at  Westminster,  and  one  of  the  ejected  min- 
isters in  1662,  was  a  good  scholar,  a  sound  theolo- 
gian, and  a  pious  man.     He  was  settled  for  some 


236 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


time  at  Showell,  near  Lutterworth,  in  Leicestershire. 
Therefore,  in  the  pnbhshed  catalogues  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  he  is  designated 
as  Richard  Cleyton,  of  Showell.  But  he  afterwards 
removed  to  a  place  in  the  county  of  Stafford,  from 
which  he  was  ejected  in  1662.  After  his  ejectment 
he  removed  to  Nuneaton,  in  Warwickshire,  where  he 
probably  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

It  is  not  known  that  Mr.  Cleyton  left  any  thing  be- 
hind him  in  print. 

Coleman,  Thomas,  A.  M.,  was  born  in  Oxfordshire, 
and  received  his  educaiion  in  the  University  of  Oxford, 
where  he  entered  Magdalen  Hall  in  1615,  in  the  sev- 
enteenth year  of  his  age.  While  there,  he  took  his 
degrees  in  the  arts,  and  entered  into  holy  orders.  He 
applied  himself  in  an  uncommon  degree  to  the  culti- 
vation of  oriental  literature,  so  that  he  received  the 
appellation  of  Rabbi  Coleman.  Afterwards  he  was 
settled  at  Blyton;  and  when  the  civil  wars  commenced, 
being  disturbed  by  the  cavaliers,  he  took  refuge  in 
London,  where  he  was  preferred  to  the  rectory  of 
St.  Peters,  in  Cornhill.  In  1643  he  was  chosen  to  be 
a  member  of  the  Westminster  Assembly;  principally 
on  account  of  his  accurate  acquaintance  with  the  He- 
brew language. 

In  matters  of  church  government,  Mr.  C.  was  a 
zealous  Erastian;  that  is,  he  believed  that  Jesus  Christ 
had  left  no  particular  form  of  church  government,  but 
that  this  was  to  be  regulated  by  the  civil  magistrate, 
who  might  appoint  any  form  which  he  thought  most 
conducive  to  the  public  weal.  The  pastoral  office,  he 
held,  was  not  connected  with  any  power  of  discipline, 
but  was  merely  instructive  and  hortatory  in  its  nature: 
and  that  the  minister  had  no  right  to  debar  any  man 
from  the  sacraments;  though  he  might  dissuade  them 
from  coming;  nor  could  he  inflict  any  censure.  The 
learned  Doctor  Lightfoot  was  also  a  great  advocate 
for  this  opinion;  and  some  of  the  most  distitiguished 
men  of  the  House  of  Commons  were  much  in  favour 
of  this  scheme.     The  debates  on  church  government 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  237 

continued  for  thirty  days;  and  no  man  more  warmly 
opposed  Presbyterian  government  than  Mr.  Coleman. 
He  said,  however,  that  he  did  not  object  to  this  kind 
of  government,  as  established  by  the  civil  magistrate, 
but  the  idea  of  its  being  of  divine  right,  he  opposed 
strenuously.  His  ablest  opponent  was  Mr.  Gillespie. 
Their  controversy  was  not  confined  to  the  Assembly, 
but  was  carried  on  in  the  pulpit,  and  from  the  press. 
But  death,  that  great  terminator  of  controversies,  in- 
terposed, and  while  the  debate  was  going  on,  he  was 
seized  with  mortal  sickness,  and  expired  in  a  few 
days.  The  whole  Assembly  attended  his  funeral  on 
the  30th  of  March,  1647.  His  character  by  Fuller  is, 
^'  that  he  was  a  pious  and  learned  man,  equally  averse 
to  presbytery  and  prelacy." 

Mr.  Coleman's  published  writings: 

1.  The  Christian's  Course  and  Complaint,  &c.  A 
sermon  preached  before  the  House  of  Commons,  Aug. 
30,  1643. 

2.  The  Heart's  Engagement.  A  sermon  preached 
at  St.  Margaret's,  Westminster,  at  the  taking  of  the 
Covenant. 

3.  God's  Unusual  Answer  to  a  Solemn  Fast.  A 
sermon  before  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  September 
12,  1644. 

4.  Hopes  Deferred  and  Dashed.  xV  sermon  preached 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  July  30,  1645. 

5.  A  Brotherly  Examination  re-examined.  A  vin- 
dication of  a  sermon  against  the  exceptions  of  Mr. 
Gillespie. 

6.  JNfaledicis  Maledicis,  or,  a  brief  reply  to  Mr. 
Gillespie's  "  Nihil  Respondes." 

7.  The  Brief  View,  briefly  Viewed,  or  Animadver- 
sions on  a  nameless  Author,  in  a  book  called,  "  A 
Brief  View  of  Mr.  Coleman's  New  Model." 

CoNANT,  John,  D.  D.^  was  born  in  Devonshire,  in 
England,  October  18, 1608.  His  family  was  of  French 
origin,  and  was  respectable,  and  of  competent  estate. 
In  1626  he  was  entered  a  student  in  Exeter  College, 
Oxford.     Here  he  prosecuted  his  studies  with  unre- 


238  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

mitting  diligence,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  those 
distinguished  talents  which  he  displayed  in  his  future 
hfe.  His  knowledge  of  the  Latin  and  Greelv  tongues 
was  exact  and  perfect.  His  Latin  style  was  elegant 
as  well  as  perspicuous;  and  he  was  so  perfect  in  the 
Greek,  that  he  often  disputed  publicly  in  that  lan- 
guage. He  was  considered  one  of  the  ablest  dis- 
putants in  the  University.  Dr.  Prideaux,  rector  of 
Exeter  College,  was  accustomed  to  say,  "  Conanti 
nihil  difficile,^^  and  predicted  that  Jack  Conant  would 
be  his  successor;  and  it  is  remarkable,  that  both  the 
eminent  stations  possessed  by  Dr.  Prideaux,  were 
afterwards  conferred  on  Dr.  Conant.  When  the 
civil  wars  commenced,  most  of  his  pupils  left  the  Uni- 
versity, and  he  thought  it  expedient  to  retire.  He 
now  enteved  into  holy  orders,  and  took  charge  of  a 
parish  at  Lymington,  where  his  uncle  was  rector. 
While  here,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster;  but  he  never  took  his 
seat  among  them,  and  never  took  the  covenant.  He 
became  chaplain  to  the  earl  of  Chandos,  in  whose 
family  he  lived,  at  Uxbridge,  and  preached  a  gratuitous 
lecture  there  to  numerous  audiences.  He  resigned  his 
fellowship  in  Exeter  College,  September  27,  1647, 
but  in  June  7, 1649,  was  chosen  rector  of  the  college; 
which  flourished  more  than  any  one  in  the  University 
during  his  administration.  And  his  reputation  grew 
so  high,  that  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Hoyle,  he  was  chosen 
Professor  of  Divinity  for  the  University  of  Oxford; 
and  in  1657,  he  was  advanced  to  the  high  office  of 
vice-chancellor  of  the  University. 

At  the  restoration  he  came  up  to  London  with  a 
congratulatory  address,  and  made  to  Charles  H.  a 
Latin  oration,  and  a  volume  of  poems  composed  by 
the  members  of  the  University.  He  was  one  who 
attended  the  Savoy  Conference;  and  when  the  act  of 
uniformity  was  passed,  he  resigned  all  his  preferments, 
as  he  could  not  conscientiously  conform  to  the  cere- 
monies of  the  church.  For  eight  years  he  continued 
to  be  an  ejected  and  silenced  minister;  and  then,  at 
length,  after  having  suffered  so  much  for  non-con- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  239 

formity,  he  submitted  to  be  re-ordained ;  which  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  Dr.  Reynolds,  bishop  of 
Norwich,  September  28, 1670,  and  he  was  then  elected 
minister  of  Mary  Aldermanbury,  in  London;  but 
being  much  pleased  with  Northampton,  he  complied 
with  the  request  of  his  friends  in  that  place,  to  remain 
among  them.  And  the  thing  took  a  very  convenient 
turn,  for  Dr.  Ford,  the  minister  of  All-saints,  in  North- 
ampton, was  now  called  to  Aldermanbury,  London, 
and  Dr.  Conafit  immediately  succeeded  him,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  place  until  his  death. 

In  ]  675,  most  of  his  parishioners  were  burnt  out 
by  a  great  fire,  which  consumed  a  large  part  of  North- 
ampton. His  own  house,  however,  was  mercifully 
preserved. 

Though  a  man  of  so  much  learning,  his  discourses 
were  composed  in  a  style  so  plain,  that  the  poorest 
people  could  understand  him.  He  preached  twice 
every  Lord's  day,  and  catechised  the  children,  among 
whom  his  own  were  always  present.  He  was  very 
assiduous  in  visiting  the  sick;  and  in  his  attentions  of 
this  sort  was  no  respecter  of  persons.  As  he  had  the 
means  of  aiding  the  indigent,  so  he  abounded  in  chari- 
ties; relieving  those  who  were  in  want  as  soon  as  he 
became  acquainted  with -their  circumstances.  During 
twenty  years  that  he  resided  in  Northampton,  he  paid 
for  the  schooling  of  poor  children  never  less  than 
twenty-four  at  once,  and  sometimes  nearly  forty;  and 
these  he  boarded  with  poor  widows,  that  they  also 
might  derive  advantage  from  his  charity  to  the 
children. 

His  amusements  were  reading  the  classics,  or  hear- 
ing a  passage  of  ancient  history,  or  instructive  con- 
versation with  his  family.  He  knew  the  value  of 
time  too  well  to  waste  it  in  idle  visits  or  empty  sports: 
or,  in  unprofitable  studies,  or  secular  afl^airs;  but 
though  very  strict  in  his  morals,  he  had  no  appear- 
ance of  moroseness  or  pride.  He  possessed  great 
evenness  of  temper;  and  though  uniformly  cheerful, 
never  indulged  in  levity.  He  was  very  little  liable 
to  dejection  of  spirits,  even  under  losses  and  bodily 


240 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


pain.  His  humility  was  so  genuine,  that  it  shone 
forth  on  all  occasions.  Much  form  and  ceremony  in 
behaviour,  he  despised;  yet  from  natural  sweetness 
of  temper,  was  affable  and  kind,  and  condescending 
to  all,  even  to  the  meanest  person  in  his  parish. 

In  the  year  1681,  he  was  installed  a  prebendary  in 
the  church  of  Worcester.  This  preferment,  the  earl 
of  Radnor,  an  old  college  acquaintance,  obtained  for 
him,  by  a  request  to  the  king  in  the  following  words, 
"  Sir,  I  come  to  beg  a  preferment  from  you,  for  a  very 
deserving  person,  who  never  sought  any  thing  for 
himself."  And  upon  naming  Dr.  Conant,  the  king 
very  readily  granted  the  request. 

In  16S6,  his  eyes  began  to  fail,  and  in  a  short  time 
he  was  entirely  blind;  but  he  lived  until  the  year 
1693,  when  he  was  in  the  S6th  year  of  his  age.  He 
was  buried  in  his  own  church  at  Northampton,  where 
a  suitable  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory,  by 
his  widow.  He  left  one  son,  who  inherited  both  his 
father's  names,  and  much  of  his  talents.  He  was  for 
a  while  fellow  of  Merton  College,  and  afterwards  an 
eminent  advocate. 

Dr.  Conant  was  a  man  of  solid  and  extensive  learn- 
ing; yet,  though  well  versed  in  the  oriental  languages, 
his  modesty  was  so  great,  that  few  people  knew  his 
acquirements. 

Six  volumes  of  his  sermons  have  been  published: 
but  one  of  these,  however,  was  edited  by  himself; 
the  other  five  were  posthumous,  and  were  given  to 
the  public  at  different  times. 

John  Conant,  the  uncle  of  the  Doctor,  was  also  an 
eminent  man,  and  like  him  belonged  to  Exeter  Col- 
lege; so  that  by  many  they  have  been  confounded. 

Corbet,  Edward,  D.  D.,  was  born  at  Pontesbury, 
in  Shropshire,  in  1602,  and  was  educated  in  Merton 
College,  Oxford,  where  he  took  his  degrees  in  the 
arts,  and  was  elected  fellow  of  his  College.  He  was 
also  made  proctor  of  the  University,  but  was  deprived 
by  archbishop  Laud,  for  refusing  conformity  to  some 
of  the  ceremonies.    When  the  civil  wars  commenced. 


MESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  241 

and  Oxford  was  garrisoned  by  the  king's  forces,  he 
was  expelled  from  his  fellowship  and  the  college,  be- 
cause he  refused  to  espouse  the  royal  cause.  In  1643, 
Mr.  Corbet  was  made  rector  of  Chatham  in  Kent,  by 
the  Parliament,  and  when  archbishop  Laud  was  tried 
he  appeared  as  a  witness  against  him,  and  testified, 
that  he  and  Mr.  Cheynell  were  enjoined  to  bow 
towards  the  altar,  which  he  refused  to  do,  and  was 
prosecuted  for  disobedience.  He  also  stated  that  a 
cross  was  now  erected  over  the  communion  table, 
and  pictures  in  the  windows,  which  things  had  never 
been  heard  of  before  the  time  of  archbishop  Laud. 

Mr.  Corbet  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines,  in  1643,  and  is  marked  by  Neal,  as  one 
who  was  constant  in  his  attendance.  He  was  one  of 
the  seven  ministers  sent  to  preach  at  Oxford,  to  pro- 
mote a  reformation  in  the  University,  and  to  reconcile 
the  students  to  the  Parliament;  but  he  soon  retired 
from  service.  He  was  afterwards  appointed  one  of 
the  visiters  of  the  University,  and  orator  and  canon 
of  Christ's  church,  in  the  room  of  Dr.  Hammond. 
But  receiving  a  presentation  to  the  rectory  of  Great 
Hasely,  in  Oxfordshire,  he  removed  thither,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

He  took  his  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  in  the 
year  1648. 

He  died  in  London,  in  1657,  aged  fifty-five  years; 
his  remains  were  removed  to  Great  Hasely,  and  in- 
terred in  the  chancel  of  the  church. 

Dr.  Corbet  was  a  sound  theologian,  and  a  good 
preacher,  and  was  always  distinguished  for  integ- 
rity. His  wife,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Nathaniel  Brent, 
and  a  descendant  of  Robert  Abbot,  bishop  of  Salis- 
bury, was  a  woman  of  uncommon  excellence. 

The  published  writings  of  Dr.  Corbet: 

1.  The  Worldling's  Looking-Glass;  or  the  danger 
of  losing  the  Soul  for  Gain. 

2.  God's  Providence;  a  sermon  from  1  Cor.  i.  27, 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  at  their  solemn  fast, 
December  28, 1642. 

16 


242 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


Delme,  Philip,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster,  and  a  constant  attendant,  ac- 
cording to  Neal.     But  no  memorials  of  him  remain. 

Downing,  Calibute,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Glouces- 
tershire, in  the  year  1604,  and  was  educated  in  Oriel 
College,  Oxford.  When  he  had  finished  his  academ- 
ical course,  and  had  entered  on  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, he  was  successively  settled  at  Ickford,  in  Buck- 
inghamshire, at  West  Ilsley,  in  Berkshire,  and  at 
Hackney,  near  London. 

In  1640,  he  expressed  the  opinion,  in  a  sermon, 
that  it  was,  in  certain  circumstances,  lawful  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  king;  on  account  of  which  he 
was  obliged  to  abscond,  until  the  meeting  of  the  Long 
Parliament. 

In  1643,  he  took  the  Covenant,  and  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster, 
but  he  is  marked  by  Neal,  as  withdrawing,  or  seldom 
attending. 

Dr.  Downing  had  the  character  of  being  a  pious 
man,  a  warm  preacher,  and  zealous  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 

Dr.  Downing's  writings: 

1.  A  Discourse  of  the  State  Ecclesiastical  of  this 
Kingdom,  in  relation  to  the  Civil.   1633. 

2.  A  Digression;  discussing  some  ordinary  excep- 
tions against  ecclesiastical  officers.   1633. 

3.  A  Discovery  of  the  False  Grounds  which  the 
Bavarian  Party  have  taken  to  settle  their  own  fac- 
tion, and  shake  the  peace  of  the  Empire. 

4.  A  Discourse  upon  the  Interest  of  England. 

5.  A  Discoursive  Conjecture  upon  the  reasons 
which  produced  the  present  troubles  of  Great  Britain, 
diff'erent  from  those  of  Lower  Germany.  And  sev- 
eral sermons. 

DuRY,  John,  was  born  in  Scotland,  but  the  time 
and  place  of  his  birth  have  not  been  ascertained.  In 
1624  he  was  a  sojourner  at  Oxford,  for  the  sake  of 
the  public  libraries.    He  then  travelled  into  Germany, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  243 

where  he  resided  for  several  years;  so  that  upon  his 
return  to  Great  Britain  he  was  taken  for  a  German. 
He  had  entered  the  ministry  on  the  continent,  but  on 
his  return,  submitted  to  re-ordination,  by  the  hands 
of  bishop  Hall,  of  Exeter.  He  was  many  years  zeal- 
ously engaged  in  a  plan  for  uniting  the  Lutherans 
and  Calvinists  into  one  body.  With  this  view,  he 
obtained  a  dispensation  for  non-residence  on  his  living, 
in  England,  and  for  many  years  he  devoted  himself 
to  this  favourite  object.  He  first  published  his  plan 
on  the  continent,  in  1634,  in  a  famous  assembly  of 
Lutheran  divines,  at  Frankfort,  in  Germany.  He  then 
negociated  with  Sweden  and  Denmark,  and  received 
communications  from  Transylvania.  His  plan  met 
with  a  very  general  approbation.  He  wrote  to  the 
learned  Joseph  Mede,  for  his  opinion  on  the  subject; 
Mr.  Mede  replied,  that  he  approved  the  object,  but 
doubted  of  its  practicability.  He  also  communicated 
his  plan  to  the  divines  of  New  England,  and  received 
their  cordial  approbation.  The  celebrated  Richard 
Baxter  observes,  "  That  Mr.  Dury  having  spent 
thirty  years  in  his  endeavours  to  reconcile  the  Lu- 
therans and  Calvinists,  was  again  going  abroad  upon 
that  work,  and  desired  the  judgment  of  our  asso- 
ciation how  it  might  be  most  successfully  accom- 
plished." 

Upon  the  commencement  of  the  civil  awrs  in  Eng- 
land, Mr.  Dury  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Parliament; 
and  became  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at 
Westminster.  He  is  marked  in  Dr.  NeaPs  list,  as  one 
who  gave  constant  attendance.  He  took  the  covenant 
with  the  rest  of  his  brethren,  and  was  appointed  on 
the  "committee  of  accommodation.^'  He  was  un- 
doubtedly a  man  of  very  amiable  character,  and  was 
much  esteemed  and  beloved  by  many  persons  of  dis- 
tinguished excellence,  among  whom  we  ought  not  to 
omit  Sir  Robert  Boyle,  who  was  eminently  his  friend. 
In  the  interesting  scheme  to  which  he  devoted  his  life, 
of  promoting  concord  among  Christians,  his  motives 
were  highly  praise-worthy;  and  although  success 
equal  to  his  own  and  his  friends'  expectations  did  not 


244 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


attend  his  labours;   yet   no   doubt  much  good  was 
effected. 

The  writings  published  by  Mr.  Dnry  are, 

1.  Consultatio  Theologica,  super  negotio  pacis  Ec- 
clesiasticas. 

2.  A  Summary  Discourse  concerning  Peace  Eccle- 
siastical. 

3.  Petition  to  the  House  of  Commons  for  the  Pre- 
servation of  true  Religion. 

4.  Considerations  showing  the  importance  of  Chris- 
tian Correspondence. 

5.  Epistolary  Discourse  to  Thomas  Goodwin. 

6.  Israel's  Call  to  march  out  of  Babylon  to  Jeru- 
salem. 

7.  Of  Presbytery  and  Independency. 

8.  Model  of  Church  Government. 

9.  Peace  Maker,  the  Gospel  Way. 

10.  Seasonable  Discourse  for  Reformation. 

11.  An  Epistle  to  Thomas  Thorowgood. 

12.  Considerations  concerning  the  "  Engagement." 

13.  The  Reformed  School. 

14.  Supplement  to  the  same. 

15.  The  Reformed  Library  Keeper. 

16.  Bibliotheca  Augusta. 

17.  The  Unchanged,  Constant,  and  Single-hearted 
Peace  Maker. 

IS.  Conscience  Eased. 

19.  Earnest  Plea  for  Gospel  Communion. 

20.  A  Summary  Platform  of  Divinity. 

21.  A  Declaration  of  John  Dury. 

22.  Irenicorum  Tractatum  Prodromus. 

Featly,  Daniel,  D.  D.,  was  the  son  of  the  cook 
of  the  president  of  Magdalen  college,  Oxford,  and  was 
born  at  Charlton  in  tliat  county,  March  1582.  Being 
a  boy  of  good  capacity,  he  was  sent  to  the  grammar 
school  adjoining  Magdalen  college.  When  duly  pre- 
pared, he  was  admitted  scholar  of  Corpus  Christi,  in 
1594;  and  was  elected  probationer-fellow  in  1602, 
having  already  taken  his  first  degree  in  the  arts.  He 
now  commenced  the  study  of  theology  with  extraor- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  245 

dinary  assiduity.  He  perused  the  remaining  works 
of  the  fathers  with  indefatigable  dihgence;  he  read 
also  the  history  and  acts  of  councils,  and  the  works 
of  the  schoolmen;  so  that  there  was  nothing  relating 
to  these  several  departments  of  ecclesiastical  litera- 
ture with  which  he  was  not  thoroughly  acquainted. 
Featly  was  equally  distinguished  as  an  accomplished 
preacher,  and  an  able  disputant;  and  his  fame  in  the 
University  Vv^as  so  great,  that  Sir  Thomas  Edmonds, 
when  appointed  as  ambassador  to  the  court  of  France, 
selected  him  as  his  chaplain.  In  this  station  he  re- 
mained for  three  years,  and  did  great  honour  to  the 
English  nation,  and  the  Protestant  religion,  disputing 
successfully  against  the  most  learned  Romanists,  who 
ventured  to  attack  him.  His  rare  abilities  as  a  dis- 
putant were  so  highly  appreciated  by  the  doctors  of 
that  communion,  that  they  were  accustomed  to  style 
him  acutissimns  and  acerrimus. 

After  his  return  to  England,  he  resumed  his  place 
in  his  college,  and  took  the  degree  of  Bachelor  in  Di- 
vinity, in  1613..  Soon  after  this,  he  was  called  to  be 
chaplain  to  Abbot,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  by 
whom  he  was  preferred  to  the  rectorship  of  Lam- 
beth. In  1617,  he  took  his  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divi- 
nity; on  which  occasion,  he  so  puzzled  Prideaux, 
the  king's  professor,  with  his  arguments,  that  a  quar- 
rel arose  between  them,  which  it  required  all  the  in- 
fluence of  the  archbishop  to  reconcile.  The  archbi- 
shop of  Spalatto,  Antony  de  Dominis,  being  present 
at  this  disputation,  was  so  pleased  with  Featly,  that 
he  immediately  gave  him  a  brother's  place,  in  the 
Savoy  Hospital,  of  which  he  was  then  master.  He 
also  had  bestowed  upon  him  by  Archbishop  Abbot, 
the  rectory  of  All-hallows,  in  Bread  street,  London, 
which  he  exchanged  for  Acton,  in  IMiddlesex;  and 
finally,  he  was  promoted  to  be  the  third — and  as  it 
proved,  the  last — provost  of  Chelsea  college. 

In  1625,  Dr.  Featly  married,  and  retired  from  the 
service  of  the  archbishop,  and  settled  himself  in  Ken- 
nington,  near  Lambeth,  where  his  wife  owned  a 
house.     The  year  following,  he  published  his  '^  An- 


246  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

cilia  Pietatis,"  or  ^^  The  Handmaid  to  Private  Devo- 
tion/' of  which  eight  editions  were  printed  in  less 
than  half  a  century.  He  also  published  another  de- 
votional work,  entitled  "  The  Practice  of  Extraordi- 
nary Devotion."  In  one  of  these  treatises,  he  repre- 
sented the  story  of  St.  George,  the  tutelary  saint  of 
England,  to  be  a  mere  fable.  But  Laud,  who  had 
now  become  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  was  so  dis- 
pleased with  this  liberty,  that  he  w^ould  not  be  satis- 
fied without  an  humble  recantation  of  the  offensive 
sentiment,  which  the  yielding  doctor  was  obliged  to 
make  on  his  knees. 

From  this  time,  until  the  commencement  of  the 
civil  wars,  Dr.  Featly  was  principally  engaged  in 
writing  books,  and  in  disputations  with  those  who 
differed  from  him  in  matters  of  religion. 

In  16^2,  when  the  army  of  the  Parliament  came  to 
Acton,  Yv^here  Featly  then  resided,  having  heard  that 
he  was  a  papist,  or  that  way  inclined,  they  sought 
for  him;  but  he  having  retired  from  the  storm,  they 
did  not  spare  his  property,  but  destroyed  his  house, 
stables,  barns,  &c.  He  seems  to  have  been  especi- 
ally, the  object  of  their  displeasure;  for  after  this, 
they  endeavoured  to  apprehend  him  at  Lambeth,  and 
would  in  all  likelihood  have  put  him  to  death,  but  he 
escaped  from  their  hands. 

Dr.  Featly,  however,  as  soon  as  the  breach  be- 
tween the  king  and  Parliament  was  complete,  took 
part  with  the  latter;  and  when  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines was  called  to  meet  at  Westminster,  he  was  one 
of  those  nominated;  and  though  several  distinguished 
Episcopalians  were  summoned  to  attend  on  that  As- 
sembly, he  was  the  only  one  who  took  his  seat, 
which  he  retained  for  some  time.  And  while  he  re- 
mained, he  was  very  active,  and  entered  zealously 
into  the  defence  of  Prelacy  against  its  numerous  and 
learned  opposers  in  that  venerable  body.  He  was, 
however,  treated  with  great  respect,  and  indulged  to 
the  full  extent,  in  the  free  expression  of  his  opinions. 
At  length,  however,  his  correspondence  with  arch- 
bishop Usher  was  interrupted,  in  which  he  communi- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  247 

cated  to  that  distinguished  prelate,  some  account  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly,  which  was  in  direct 
violation  of  the  solemn  engagement,  which  all  the 
members  took  on  entering  that  body.  The  conse- 
quence was,  that  he  was  expelled  from  the  Assem- 
bly by  the  Parliament ;  and  Usher,  who  had  also 
been  of  the  number  originally  nominated,  was  de- 
clared incapable  of  taking  his  seat. 

Lord  Clarendon,  in  favour  to  Dr.  Featly,  puts  an- 
other face  on  this  transaction,  and  says,  that  the  king 
wrote  to  him,  and  commanded  him  to  leave  the  As- 
sembly;  which  might  also  be  true. 

When  Laud  was  put  on  his  trial,  Dr.  Featly  was 
one  of  the  witnesses  against  him;  on  which  occasion 
he  discovered  himself  to  be  more  of  a  Calvinist,  says 
his  biographer,  than  he  had  been  suspected  to  be. 
Heylin,  however,  says,  that  he  was  always  a  Calvi- 
nist at  heart;  and  his  being  nominated  a  member  of 
the  Westminster  Assembly  is  a  sure  proof  that  he 
had  the  reputation  of  being  a  Calvinist;  for  of  all  the 
persons  selected  for  that  service,  it  is  not  known  that 
any  one  was  inclined  to  Arminianism,  which  was  in 
exceeding  bad  odour  with  all  the  friends  of  the  Par- 
liament. 

Dr.  Featly  was  much  opposed  to  the  imposition  of 
the  "  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,"  and  it  was  on 
this  subject,  that  he  wrote  to  archbishop  Usher,  when 
the  correspondence  was  interrupted.  He  was,  on 
this  occasion,  treated  very  harshly,  as  if  he  had  been 
a  traitor;  for  he  was  not  only  expelled  from  the  As- 
sembly, as  was  before  stated,  but  he  was  seized  and 
committed  to  prison,  where  he  continued  until  March 
1G44.  All  his  rectories  and  preferments  also  were 
taken  from  him.  But  his  health  suffering  greatly 
from  confinement,  as  he  was  of  a  dropsical  habit,  he 
was  removed  to  Chelsea  college,  of  which,  until  this 
time,  he  had  been  the  provost.  Here  he  spent  his 
time  in  devotional  exercises,  until  the  termination  of 
his  life,  which  occurred  in  April  1645. 

"He  was  esteemed,"  says  Wood,  "by  the  gene- 
rality, to  be  one  of  the  most  resolute  and  victorious 


248  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

champions  of  the  reformed  Protestant  rehgion  of  any 
of  his  time;  a  most  smart  scourge  of  the  church  of 
Rome;  a  compendium  of  the  learned  tongues,  and  of 
all  the  liberal  arts  and  sciences;  and  though  of  small 
stature,  yet  he  had  a  great  soul,  and  learning  of  all 
kinds  compacted  in  him." 

Ford,  Thomas,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines, at  Westminster,  was  born  at  Brixton,  in  Dev- 
onshire, in  the  year  1598. 

In  his  youth  he  was  of  a  serious  turn  of  mind,  and 
much  inclined  to  learning.  He  received  the  rudi- 
ments of  his  classical  education  under  Mr.  Durant,  at 
Plympton,  and  entered  a  student  at  Magdalen  Hall, 
Oxford,  in  the  year  1619  or  1620.  Here  his  profi- 
ciency in  learning,  especially  in  all  connected  with 
theology  was  great.  In  1624,  he  proceeded  A.  B. 
and  in  1627,  A.  M.  He  was  very  much  celebrated 
as  an  able  tutor,  while  in  the  University. 

Having,  with  some  other  preachers  in  the  Univer- 
sity, publicly  preached  against  the  innovations  which 
Laud  was  making,  he  was  called  before  the  vice- 
chancellor,  and  a  copy  of  his  sermon  demanded, 
which  he  offered  to  give,  if  the  demand  was  made 
agreeably  to  the  statutes.  He  then  ordered  him  to 
surrender  himself  a  prisoner  at  the  castle.  Mr.  Ford 
offered  to  go,  if  they  would  send  a  beadle  with  him. 
This  was  not  done;  but  his  study  was  sealed  up,  and 
a  search  made  into  his  books  and  papers,  for  matter 
of  accusation,  but  nothing  was  found.  Archbishop 
Laud,  when  he  heard  of  this  affair,  sent  peremptory 
orders,  as  chancellor  of  the  University,  to  punish  the 
refractory  preachers;  and  Ford  was  again  arraigned 
before  the  vice-chancellor;  and  upon  a  demand  for  a 
copy  of  his  sermon,  surrendered  it;  but  on  pretence 
of  former  contumacy  was  again  commanded  to  sur- 
render himself  prisoner.  He  appealed  to  the  convo- 
cation, and  delivered  his  appeal  in  writing  to  the 
proctors.  These  were  men  of  eminent  probity  and 
ability,  and  carried  the  appeal  before  the  convoca- 
tion; who  referred  the  matter  to  sixteen  delegates, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  249 

ten  of  whom  were  clear  for  acquitting  Mr.  Ford  from 
all  breach  of  the  peace.  From  this  opinion  the  vice- 
chancellor  appealed  to  the  convocation  itself;  but  the 
time  limited  by  statute  elapsed  before  they  came  to  a 
decision.  Upon  which  Laud  brought  the  whole  mat- 
ter before  the  king  and  council,  at  Woodstock.  When 
Mr.  Ford  appeared,  the  king  himself  examined  him 
on  three  points; 

1st.  Why  he  refused  a  copy  of  his  sermon.^ 

To  v/hicii  he  answered  that  he  had  not  refused  it, 
but  offered  it  according  to  the  statutes. 

2d.  Whether  Dr.  Prideaux  had  dissuaded  him  from 
giving  it? 

To  which  he  answered  that  he  had  never  consulted 
the  Doctor  respecting  it. 

3d.  The  third  question  was,  why  he  did  not  go  to 
prison  when  ordered  ? 

He  gave  the  same  answer  as  before  to  the  vice- 
chancellor.  The  king  said  no  more,  and  Laud, 
though  present,  did  not  interpose  one  word;  but  the 
council  passed  a  sentence,  that  Ford,  Thorn,  and 
Hodges,  be  expelled  from  the  University;  that  both 
the  proctors  should  be  deprived  of  their  places  for  re- 
ceiving the  appeals;  and  that  Dr.  Prideaux  and  Dr. 
Wilkinson  should  receive  a  sharp  rebuke,  for  med- 
dling in  this  affair. 

Thorn  and  Hodges  made  their  peace  with  Laud, 
by  a  recantation,  and  were  both  soon  promoted;  but 
Ford  was  compelled  to  leave  the  University  in  four 
days.  He  was  soon  invited  to  Plymouth,  to  take 
charge  of  a  congregation,  but  Laud  sent  letters  for- 
bidding his  induction.  Finding  himself  excluded 
from  all  useful  stations  in  his  own  country,  he  went 
abroad  as  chaplain  to  the  regiment  of  Col.  Fleetwood, 
in  the  service  of  Augustus  Adolphus.  While  in  Ger- 
many, his  eminent  abilities  recommended  him  to  the 
learned  of  all  professions.  He  was  also  invited  by 
the  English  merchants  of  Hamburgh  to  become  their 
minister.  But  not  being  much  pleased  with  a  resi- 
dence in  a  foreign  country,  Mr.  Ford  returned  home, 
and  received  a  presentation  to  the  rectory  of  Aid- 


250  BIOGKAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

winkle,  in  Northamptonshire,  where  he  laboured 
with  great  dihgence  some  years.  He  married  the 
daughter  of  a  member  of  Gray's  Inn,  by  whom  he 
had  several  children;  and  was  chosen  proctor  for  the 
clergy  of  the  diocese  of  Peterborough,  to  the  famous 
convocation  of  1640. 

When  the  war  between  the  king  and  Parliament 
commenced,  he  retired  to  London,  and  was  made 
minister  of  St.  Faith's,  London;  and  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster. 

After  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Ford  settled  at  Exe- 
ter, the  largest  city  of  Devonshire.  This  part  of  the 
country  he  found  overrun  with  fanatical  errors, 
against  all  which  he  set  his  face,  and  with  extra- 
ordinary zeal  and  diligence  endeavoured  to  disabuse 
the  misled  people  of  their  wild  notions;  and  his  suc- 
cess was  also  extraordinary.  His  labours  in  Exeter 
were  highly  acceptable  and  useful.  Indeed,  the 
whole  city  appeared  to  undergo  a  reformation;  and  a 
relish  for  God's  word  and  ordinances  became  general 
among  the  inhabitants.  He  was  esteemed  by  all 
classes  of  people,  the  high  and  the  low;  and  culti- 
vated a  friendly  intercourse  with  the  other  ministers 
of  the  town  and  its  vicinity.  By  his  influence  a  Tues- 
day's lecture  was  set  up,  in  which  they  all  took  their 
turns,  and  was  attended  with  the  happiest  results. 
He  also  prevailed  with  his  brethren  to  enter  into  a 
concerted  plan  of  holding  a  communion  in  'one  of 
their  churches,  every  fortnight,  at  which  all  who  de- 
sired it,  of  other  churches,  might  attend ;  which  had 
a  tendency  to  prevent  all  jealousies  among  the  minis- 
ters, and  to  unite  the  people  in  affection  towards  each 
other.  For  thirteen  years  the  ministers  and  churches 
of  Exeter  enjoyed  the  most  uninterrupted  peace  and 
harmony,  until  the  arrival  of  the  fatal  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's day,  when  Mr.  Ford  and  his  brethren  were  all 
cast  out  for  non-conformity. 

Not  being  free  to  take  the  oath  prescribed  by  the 
Oxford  act,  he  and  a  number  of  others  sent  in  a  peti- 
tion, stating  what  sort  of  an  oath  they  were  willing  to 
take,  but  the  magistrates  refused  to  grant  them  any 


WEST3IINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  251 

indulgence;  they  were,  therefore,  obhged  to  leave 
Exeter  for  a  while.  Mr.  Ford  went  and  resided  in 
Exmonth,  a  village  about  nine  miles  from  Exeter, 
where  he  lived  in  deep  retirement,  depending  for  sub- 
sistence on  his  Heavenly  Father's  care. 

When  king  James'  II.  indulgence  came  out,  al- 
though he  did  not  approve  the  motive,  or  design;  yet 
he  was  of  opinion  that  he  ought  to  improve  the  oppor- 
tunity of  preaching  the  gospel.  He  therefore  returned 
to  Exeter;  but  his  health  was  now  so  much  impaired 
that  he  was  not  able  to  preach  publicly  more  than 
twice;  he  was  however  useful  to  many  in  the  way  of 
private  advice  and  counsel. 

His  complaints  continued  to  increase  until  he  was 
confined  entirely  to  his  bed.  When  two  ministers 
from  the  city  came  to  see  him,  he  expressed  a  deep 
sense  of  his  own  unworthiness,  and  of  the  all-suffi- 
ciency of  Christ,  and  said  he  would  repose  himself 
upon  that  rock  in  the  storms  of  approaching  death. 
When  an  old  friend  in  the  ministry  came  to  see  him, 
and  was  reciting  these  words,  *'  The  sting  of  death  is 
sin,  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law,"  Mr.  Ford 
stopped  him  short,  and  said,  "But  thanks  be  to  God 
who  giveth  us  the  victory.''  These  were  his  last 
words.  He  died  December,  1674,  according  to  Cal- 
amy,  but  in  1676,  according  to  Wood,  in  the  seventy- 
sixth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Ford's  publications: 

1.  Two  Sermons  before  Parliament;  the  one  be- 
fore the  Commons,  the  other  before  the  Lords. 

2.  Singing,  the  t)uty  of  Christians  under  the  INew 
Testament;  or  a  Vindication  of  that  Ordinance;  in 
five  sermons. 

3.  The  Sinner  Condemned  of  Himself;  being  a  plea 
for  God,  against  all  the  ungodly,  proving  them  alone 
guilty  of  their  own  destruction. 

4.  The  Scriptures'  Self-Evidence;  proving  it  to  be 
the  only  rule  of  Faith,  against  the  Papists. 

FoxcROFT,  John,  A.  M.,  a  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  was  educated  in  Mag- 


252 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


dalen  Hall,  Oxford.  He  took  his  degree  of  A.  M.  in 
1617.  And  having  finished  his  studies  in  the  Univer- 
sity, he  entered  on  his  ministerial  work  at  Gotham, 
in  .Northamptonshire.  Upon  the  commencement  of 
the  civil  war,  he  took  part  with  the  Parliament,  and 
experienced  much  molestation  from  royalists.  In 
1643,  he  removed  to  London  to  attend  on  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines,  to  which  he  was  appointed. 

Mr.  Foxcroft  published  but  one  sermon  which  is 
known  to  us.  This  is  entitled,  "  The  Good  of  a  good 
Government,  and  well  grounded  Peace,"  from  Isaiah 
xxxii.  1,  2,  preached  before  the  House  of  Commons, 
in  Margaret's  Church,  Westminster,  on  the  day  of 
their  monthly  fast,  December  31,  1G45. 

Gataker,  Thomas,  was  born  in  London,  on  the 
4th  of  September,  1574.  He  was  descended  from  a 
very  ancient  family  in  Shropshire,  where  the  name  is 
said  to  have  been  found,  from  the  time  of  Edward  the 
Confessor.  His  father,  at  the  time  of  his  birth,  was 
pastor  in  St.  Edmund's  Church,  Lombard  street,  Lon- 
don, and  was  eminently  distinguished  for  his  disin- 
terestedness and  self-denial,  for  the  sake  of  Christ. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  the  first  part 
of  his  education  in  his  father's  house,  and  gave  early 
indications  of  an  uncommon  genius  and  of  surprising 
application.  At  a  very  early  period  of  his  life,  he 
devoted  himself  entirely  to  the  pursuits  of  literature. 
His  manners  were  amiable,  and  his  conversation 
grave.  Enjoying  the  advantages  of  a  good  early 
education,  and  sound  religious  instruction,  his  vigor- 
ous mind  soon  imbibed  those  principles  which  after- 
wards so  happily  ripened  into  maturity.  In  the 
grammar  school  to  which  he  was  sent,  he  quickly 
distinguished  himself  for  his  learning  and  diligence, 
above  all  his  fellows. 

^  In  the  year  1590,  when  only  sixteen  years  of  age, 
he  was  sent  to  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  where 
he  pursued  his  academical  studies  with  indefatigable 
industry.  He  was  also  here  distinguished  for  his 
amiable  manners  and  propriety  of  conduct.     Besides 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  253 

his  common  course  of  study,  he  found  time  to  attend 
the  lectures  on  Greek,  by  Mr.  Bois,  which  were  de- 
Uvered  from  his  bed  to  such  as  preferred  learning  to 
their  accustomed  rest.  Of  these  lectures  he  took  accu- 
rate notes,  which  he  preserved  with  great  care;  and 
when  visited  by  his  teacher,  many  years  afterwards, 
he  gratified  the  old  man  exceedingly  by  showing  him 
these  notes.  He  also,  while  in  the  University,  gave 
his  attention  to  the  study  of  Hebrew,  under  the  tuition 
of  that  celebrated  scholar,  Mr.  Edward  Lively,  who 
was  then  the  professor  of  the  Hebrew  language  in 
Cambridge.  Mr.  Gataker  had  not  resided  long  in 
the  University,  before  he  had  the  heavy  misfortune  of 
losing  his  father,  on  whom  he  depended  for  support, 
and  who  was  not  in  circumstances  to  leave  him  the 
means  of  finishing  his  education  at  the  University. 
But,  in  this  exigence,  providence  raised  him  up 
friends;  for  several  benevolent  persons  in  London, 
who  knew  the  promise  of  the  young  man,  contributed 
what  supplied  his  present  necessities,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  he  was  elected  to  a  scholarship  in  his  own 
college.  At  the  proper  time,  he  took  his  degrees  in 
the  arts,  and  his  exercises,  on  these  occasions,  were 
highly  applauded.  While  resident  at  the  University, 
he  associated  with  men  of  the  most  pious  and  edify- 
ing conversation.  Among  these,  was  one  Mr.  Richard 
Stock,  with  whom  he  was  united  in  the  bonds  of  the 
most  endearing  friendship,  which  continued  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Stock. 

Mr.  Gataker's  reputation  for  learning  and  piety 
had  risen  so  high  in  the  University,  that  he  was  cho- 
sen fellow  of  Sidney  College,  although  the  buildings 
were  not  yet  erected  for  the  institution.  In  the  mean 
time,  he  was  invited  to  reside  in  the  house  of  William 
Ayloffe,  Esq.,  afterwards  a  baronet  in  Essex,  as  tutor 
to  that  gentleman's  eldest  son,  and  assistant  to  that 
gentleman  himself,  in  the  study  of  Hebrew.  While 
resident  in  this  family,  it  was  his  custom  to  expound 
a  portion  of  Scripture,  taking  the  sense  from  the  origi- 
nal languages,  and  thence  deducing  pertinent,  practi- 
cal observations.     In  this  manner,  he  went  over  the 


254 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


apostolic  epistles,  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah,  and  a  good 
part  of  the  book  of  Job;  which  exercise  could  not  but 
be  very  beneficial  to  himself,  as  well  as  the  household 
for  whose  sake  it  was  performed.  On  one  of  these  occa- 
sions, Dr.  Sterne,  the  suffragan  bishop  of  Colchester, 
happening  to  be  present,  was  so  well  pleased  with  Mr. 
Gataker's  exposition,  that  he  urged  him  to  enter  into 
holy  orders.  For  some  time  he  hesitated,  on  account 
of  the  views  which  he  entertained  of  the  serious  and 
exalted  nature  of  the  holy  ministry;  but  at  length  he 
yielded  to  the  urgent  exhortations  of  this  prelate,  and 
those  of  other  friends,  and  was  ordained  by  the  suf- 
fragan before  named. 

As  soon  as  the  College  of  Sidney  was  finished,  Mr. 
Gataker  removed,  and  took  his  proper  station  in  the 
building,  where  he  devoted  himself  very  assiduously 
to  study,  and  acted  also  as  tutor,  with  great  fidelity; 
exhorting  the  young  students  to  devote  themselves  to 
piety  and  learning.  He  also  entered  into  a  plan  with 
Mr.  William  Bedell  and  Mr.  Ashton,  to  supply  the 
destitute  country  around  Cambridge,  with  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel.  In  conformity  with  this  plan,  he 
preached  at  Everton  every  Lord's  day,  for  six  months; 
for,  although  the  vicar  of  the  parish  was  resident,  on 
account  of  extreme  age  he  was  unable  to  perform  the 
parochial  duties.  For  reasons  not  known,  Mr.  Gata- 
ker^s  continuance  in  Sidney  College  was  short.  He 
removed  to  London,  and  by  the  persuasion  of  his 
friend,  Mr.  Ashton,  consented  to  act  as  chaplain  in 
the  family  of  Sir  William  Cooke.  In  this  situation, 
he  became  acquainted  with  many  persons  of  emi- 
nence; among  whom  were  members  of  Lincoln's- 
Inn,  who  had  opportunity  of  appreciating  Mr.  Gata- 
ker's ministerial  gifts  and  eminent  pulpit  talents, 
when  he  preached  for  different  ministers  of  his  ac- 
quaintance. They  therefore  became  solicitous  that 
he  would  take  the  necessary  steps  to  be  chosen 
preacher  to  their  society.  But  his  native  modesty, 
and  diffidence  of  his  own  abilities,  would  not  allow 
him  to  become  a  candidate  for  that  honourable  office. 
However,  without  any  solicitation  on  his  part,  he 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  255 

was  chosen,  and  was  prevailed  upon  by  his  friends 
to  accept  the  invitation.  He  entered  upon  the  per- 
formance of  its  duties  in  1601,  and  for  ten  years  offi- 
ciated as  preacher  to  that  honourable  society,  with 
great  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  benefit  of  those  who 
heard  him;  and  was  much  admired  and  caressed  by 
his  learned  audience.  During  this  period,  he  prose- 
cuted his  studies  with  judicious  and  successful  appli- 
cation. 

Dr.  Montague,  Master  of  Sidney  College,  had  in- 
tended to  invite  Mr.  Gataker  to  return  to  the  college, 
as  lecturer  on  Hebrew;  but  when  he  received  the 
invitation  to  Lincoln's-Inn,  he  urged  him  to  accept 
that  appointment.  By  becoming  preacher  to  the  So- 
ciety of  Lincoln's-Inn,  he  did  not  dissolve  his  con- 
nection with  the  family  of  Sir  William  Cooke;  for 
although  he  felt  it  be  to  his  duty  to  reside  at  Lincoln's- 
Inn,  in  term-time,  yet  in  vacation,  he  went  down  to 
Sir  William's  seat,  in  Northamptonshire,  where  he 
was  accustomed  to  preach,  every  Sunday,  either  in 
the  family  chapel  or  in  the  parish  church.  He  Avent 
about  doing  good,  as  he  had  opportunity;  and  as  his 
first  object  was  to  glorify  God,  the  next  evidently 
was  to  benefit  his  fellow  men.  He  now  took  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Divinity  in  Cambridge,  and 
was  urged  by  many  to  take  that  of  doctor  also;  but 
this  he  declined,  for  economical  reasons.  His  reputa- 
tion as  a  preacher  rose  so  high,  while  he  officiated  at 
Lincoln's-Inn,  that  he  had  several  offers  of  lucrative 
livings,  which  it  was  thought  he  might  have  enjoyed 
without  dissolving  his  connection  with  this  honoura- 
ble society;  but  such  was  his  opinion  of  the  unlaw- 
fulness of  pluralities,  that  he  conscientiously  refused 
all  offers  of  this  sort,  however  advantageous  they 
might  appear.  His  love  of  study  was  so  great,  that 
for  the  sake  of  a  large  income,  he  was  not  willing  to 
relinquish  the  favourable  situation  which  he  here 
enjoyed  for  pursuing  those  branches  of  learning  to 
which  he  was  inclined.  The  objects  to  which  his 
attention  was  more  especially  directed,  were  a  tho- 
rough knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  in  their  original 


25G  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

tongues;  an  acquaintance  with  the  Others  of  the  first 
ages  of  the  Christian  church;  and  also  of  the  best 
Greek  and  Roman  authors.  But  after  Mr.  Gataker 
thought  proper  to  enter  into  the  married  state,  he 
judged  it  necessary  to  resign  his  situation  as  preacher 
at  Lincohi's-lnn,  and  accepted  the  rectory  of  Rolher- 
hithe,  in  the  county  of  Surrey,  near  London-bridge. 
As  has  been  said,  lie  might  have  retained  both;  but 
this  for  the  reason  aheady  given,  he  would  by  no 
means  consent  to  do.  The  honourable  society,  for 
whose  benefit  and  to  whose  acceptance  he  had  so 
long  laboured,  were  very  reluctant  to  give  him  up; 
but  they  could  not  but  highly  respect  the  motive 
which  led  to  his  resignation.  Being  now  the  regular 
pastor  of  a  flock,  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  had 
made  him  overseer,  he  devoted  himself  faithfully  to 
fulfil  the  responsible  duties  of  his  office.  To  the 
pubUc  preaching  of  the  Word,  on  the  Sabbath,  he 
added  a  catechetical  lecture,  on  Friday,  which  was 
chiefly  intended  for  tlie  benefit  of  children  and  young 
persons ;  and  for  some  time,  this  institution  was  well 
attended,  and  was  productive  of  much  good.  His 
principal  bodily  indisposition,  which  interfered  with 
the  discharge  of  his  parochial  duties,  was  an  almost 
perpetual  headache,  produced,  as  was  thought,  by 
his  late  studies;  but  was  probably  owing  to  some 
other  cause.  Mr.  Gataker's  catechetical  instructions 
were  conducted  so  judiciously  and  systematically, 
that  after  some  time,  he  had  gone  over  the  whole 
system  of  divinity;  and  these  discourses  were  at- 
tended by  Christians  considerably  advanced  in  Chris- 
tian knowledge. 

In  the  year  1616,  Mr.  Gataker  entered  upon  a 
literary  correspondence  with  Dr.  Usher,  afterwards 
archbishop  of  Armagh,  respecting  some  ancient  MSS. 
which  he  had  in  his  possession,  of  the  divines  of  a 
former  age;  and  among  others,  of  the  famous  Robert 
Grosthead,  bishop  of  Lincoln.  These  letters  furnish 
evidence  of  the  profound  erudition  of  Mr.  Gataker, 
and  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  Dr. 
Usher. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  257 

Whilst  Mr.  Gataker  was  preacher  at  Lincohi's-Inn, 
among  other  learned  subjects  which  he  discussed, 
was  that  "  Of  the  Rise  and  Abuse  of  Lots."  His 
object,  in  these  discourses,  was  to  show  that  lots^  in 
games  for  mere  amusement,  were  not  in  themselves 
sinful,  but  that  lots  of  divination,  or  to  ascertain  the 
will  of  God,  in  matters  of  importance,  were  now  un- 
lawful. These  discourses  were  much  misrepresented, 
as  though  he  had  become  the  apologist  of  gamblers, 
and  had  given  encouragement  to  the  waste  of  pre- 
cious time,  by  the  fascination  of  games  of  chance. 
These  rumors  coming  to  his  ears,  he  was  induced, 
though  reluctantly,  to  send  these  discourses  to  the 
press,  under  the  title  of  "The  Nature  and  Use  of 
Lots;  a  Treatise  Historical  and  Theological,"  pub- 
lished in  1619.  This  very  elaborate  work  is  allowed 
to  be  eminently  distinguished  for  accuracy,  acuteness 
of  reasoning,  profound  learning,  perspicuity,  and  ele- 
gance of  style,  for  the  time  in  which  it  was  written. 
The  work  was  entirely  satisfactory  to  a  large  part  of 
the  community;  but  there  were  some  who  still  cen- 
sured his  views,  so  that  this  discussion  not  only  ren- 
dered it  necessary  to  appear  as  an  author,  but  to 
enter  into  controversy  in  defence  of  his  opinions.  In 
his  epistle  to  the  reader,  he  protests  in  the  most 
solemn  manner  that  he  had  no  sinister  end  in  view, 
and  that  he  had  said  nothing  but  what  he  was  verily 
persuaded  was  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God.  But 
that,  if  any  man  could  better  inform  him,  he  would 
willingly  listen  to  him.  He  avows  that  the  elucidation 
of  the  truth  was  his  only  object,  and  says,  "  that  who- 
soever shall  take  no  more  liberty  than  by  me  is  here 
given,  shall  be  sure  to  keep  within  the  bounds  of 
piety,  of  sobriety,  of  equity,  and  of  charity." 

In  the  year  1620,  Mr.  Gataker  set  out  on  a  tour 
through  the  Spanish  Netherlands  and  United  Pro- 
vinces, in  company  with  two  eminent  friends  and  his 
own  nephew,  who  was  then  a  student.  His  object 
in  undertaking  this  journey  was  a  laudable  desire 
to  become  better  acquainted  with  the  state  of  the 
churches  in  those  regions,  and  to  cultivate  acquaint- 

17 


258 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


ance  with  men  distinguished  for  their  learning.  When 
he  was  at  Middleburgh,  in  Zealand,  he  preached  in 
the  English  church,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  his 
countrymen  who  resided  there.  He  also  distinguish- 
ed himself  in  controversy  with  the  English  Catholic 
priests,  who  encountered  him  in  this  place.  He  was 
greatly  impressed  with  the  importance  of  maintaining 
peace  between  England  and  Holland,  as  he  was  of 
opinion  that  the  zeal  of  the  Dutch  for  the  Protestant 
religion  was  very  strong  and  sincere. 

Upon  Mr.  Gataker's  return  to  his  own  country, 
from  which  he  had  been  absent  only  one  month, 
he  found  that  his  treatise  on  '^  Lots"  had  been  attack- 
ed by  a  Mr.  John  Balmford;  but  on  account  of  its 
angry  spirit  and  illiberal  reflections  on  Mr.  Gataker, 
the  licenser  of  the  press  had  refused  to  permit  it  to  be 
published.  As  soon  as  he  learned  the  true  state  of 
the  case,  he,  to  his  credit,  used  all  his  influence  to 
have  the  prohibition  removed;  and  when*  he  suc- 
ceeded in  this,  he  then  immediately  set  about  prepa- 
ring an  answer,  which  was  published  in  1823,  and 
was  entitled,  "A  Just  Defence  of  Certain  Passages  in 
a  Former  Treatise,  concerning  the  Nature  and  Use 
of  Lots,  &c."  In  this  answer,  he  inserts  the  whole 
of  Mr.  Balmford^s  arguments,  in  his  own  words,  and 
replies  distinctly  to  every  thing  which  he  had  brought 
forth.  Not  long  afterwards,  he  felt  himself  called 
upon  to  defend  the  principles  maintained  in  this  same 
Treatise  on  Lots,  against  two  very  learned  foreign 
divines,  Voetius  and  Amesius;  each  of  whom  had 
published  in  Latin,  on  this  subject.  Of  course  it  was 
necessary  that  his  answer  should  also  be  in  Latin. 
Mr.  Gataker  had  a  warm  zeal  for  the  Protestant  re- 
ligion, which  led  him  to  publish  a  work  against  the 
Romanists, »the  title  of  which  was  ^' A  Discussion  of 
the  Popish  Doctrine  of  Transubstantiation."  This 
work  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  learned,  when  it 
was  published,  and  still  deserves  to  be  consulted  on 
this  controversy.  He  also  published  "A  Defence  of 
this  Discourse  against  the  Answer  of  an  Anonymous 
Popish  Priest." 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


259 


In  the  year  1624,  Mr.  Gataker  published  "A  Short 
Catechism/'  and  in  the  year  following  he  published 
several  elaborate  works,  the  titles  of  which  will  be 
given  in  the  list  of  his  writings,  at  the  close  of  this 
memoir.  But  we  must  not  forget  to  make  particular 
mention  of  his  work  *•  On  Justification,"  founded  on 
Rom.  iii.  23:  "  We  conclude,  therefore,  that  a  man  is 
justified  by  faith,  without  the  deeds  of  the  law." 
The  substance  of  this  discourse  was  preached  to  his 
people,  in  a  series  of  sermons,  which  he  commenced 
in  1640;  but  at  the  time  he  seems  to  have  had  no 
thought  of  publishing  any  thing  on  this  subject;  but, 
being  much  urged  by  his  friends  to  prepare  his  notes 
for  the  press,  he  at  length  set  about  it,  and  reviewed 
the  whole  subject,  reading  very  extensively  on  it;  but 
before  it  was  entirely  ready  for  the  press,  he  was 
called  away  from  his  earthly  labours;  and  it  was 
published  after  his  death,  by  his  son. 

In  the  year  1642,  he  was  brought  very  near,  appa- 
rently, to  the  gates  of  death,  by  a  violent  attack  of 
cholic,  but  through  divine  mercy  was  raised  up  again, 
to  be  further  useful  to  his  flock  and  to  the  church  of 
Christ. 

When  the  Parliament  determined  on  convening  an 
Assembly  of  learned  Divines,  to  advise  them  in  rela- 
tion to  the  settlement  of  religion  in  the  kingdom, 
Gataker  was  nominated  as  a  men:iber  of  that  respect- 
able body,  on  which  he  attended  with  exemplary 
diligence  and  patience.  The  article  on  Justification 
was  so  expressed  as  not  entirely  to  meet  his  views; 
but  as  a  large  majority  were  in  favour  of  the  article 
as  it  stands  in  the  Confession,  he  imposed  silence  on 
himself,  and  offered  no  objection.  But  on  the  subject 
of  ruling,  as  distinct  from  preaching  elders,  he  set 
himself  strenuously  to  oppose  the  recognition  of  any 
such  office  in  the  church;  and  in  these  views  he  was 
upheld  by  some  of  the  ablest  members  in  the  house, 
as  Dr.  Temple,  Dr.  Smith,  Mr.  Vines,  Mr.  Price,  and 
Mr.  Hall.  It  was  carried,  however,  by  a  large  ma- 
jority in  favour  of  the  office;  and  so  it  became  a 
distinguishing  feature  in  the  government  adopted  by 


250  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

this  Assembly.  Mr.  Gataker,  if  he  could  have  had 
his  way,  would  have  been  in  favour  of  a  moderate 
Episcopacy;  and  he  therefore  felt  some  scruples  re- 
specting the  Covenant,  imtil  some  expressions  were 
explained  and  modified,  so  that  he  could  with  a  good 
conscience  subscribe. 

While  acting  as  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  the 
Earl  of  Manchester,  who  was  well  acquainted  with 
his  pre-eminent  abilities  and  profound  erudition,  of- 
fered to  appoint  him  to  be  Master  of  Trinity  College, 
Cambridge,  which  was  the  greatest  preferment  in  the 
whole  University.  But  though  urged  by  his  friends 
to  accept,  yet  he  chose  to  decline  this  tempting  offer, 
pleading  as  his  apology,  his  advanced  years  and  his 
desire  to  employ  the  short  remainder  of  his  life  in 
writing  for  the  benefit  of  the  learned  world. 

His  health  was  again  interrupted  by  a  dangerous 
attack  of  sickness:  but  again  it  pleased  his  heavenly 
Father  to  restore  him,  although  he  was  for  some  time 
confined  to  his  chamber.  So  great,  however,  was 
his  zeal  to  be  doing  something  for  the  advancement 
of  learning,  that  during  his  confinement,  he  composed 
two  learned  discourses;  the  one  on  the  name  Jeho- 
vah, and  the  other  ''On  the  Dipthongs,"  in  which 
last,  he  asserted  that  two  vowels  cannot  be  so  united 
as  to  form  one  syllable.  He  also  engaged  with  other 
eminent  divines,  in  writing  "  Annotations  on  the  Bi- 
ble," under  the  name  of  the  "  English  Annotations," 
and  not  the  "Assembly's  Annotations,"  as  they  have 
been  frequently,  but  improperly  called.  Dr.  Burgess, 
who  was  one  of  the  assessors,  and  a  leading  man  in 
the  Assembly,  has  left  us  this  testimony:  "It  is  in- 
deed true,  that  some  members  of  the  Assembly,  join- 
ing with  some  others,  did  compile  some  Annotations 
on  the  Bible,  which  many  take  to  be  the  work  of  the 
Assembly.  But  take  this  for  an  undoubted  truth, 
those  annotations  were  never  made  by  the  Assembly, 
nor  by  any  order  from  it;  nor  after  they  were  made, 
ever  had  the  approbation  of  the  Assembly,  or  were 
so  much  as  offered  to  the  Assembly  at  all,  for  that 
purpose  or  any  other." 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  261 

The  part  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  Mr.  Gataker,  was 
the  books  of  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  and  Lamentations; 
and  his  annotations  on  those  books  furnish  solid  evi- 
dence of  the  talents,  learning,  dihgence,  and  piety  of 
the  author.  The  authors  of  the  other  parts  have 
been  mentioned  in  the  History  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly,  and  need  not  be  here  repeated. 

In  1648,  Mr.  Gataker  published  a  work  on  the 
style  of  the  New  Testament,  which  gained  him  the 
character  of  being  one  of  the  ablest  philologists  of  the 
age.  He  soon  added  a  larger  work,  also  of  a  critical 
nature,  intended  to  illustrate  difficult  passages,  both 
in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  and  in  the  Fathers, 
modern  critics,  profane  authors,  both  Greek  and 
Latin.  This  work  was  entitled,  "  Adversaria  Miscel- 
lanea." It  was  divided  into  six  books,  only  two  of 
which  were  published  by  the  author  himself:  the  re- 
maining four  were  given  to  the  world  after  his  death, 
under  the  title  of  "  Adversaria  Miscellanea  Posthu- 
ma,"  in  1659. 

In  1651,  he  published  a  learned  Latin  Discourse 
on  Infant  Baptism;  and  the  following  year,  his  splen- 
did edition  of  the  Meditations  of  the  Emperor  Anto- 
ninus, with  a  learned  preliminary  discourse  respecting 
the  philosophy  of  the  stoics.  This  edition  of  one  of 
the  best  treatises  of  heathen  philosophy  and  morality, 
is  in  high  esteem  with  the  lovers  of  classical  literature. 

For  some  time  before  his  death,  Mr.  Gataker  was 
entirely  laid  aside  from  the  duties  of  the  pulpit,  in 
which  he  delighted,  and  in  which  he  excelled,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  rupture  of  a  blood  vessel  in  the  lungs; 
but  it  seemed  as  if  nothing  could  prevent  his  labour- 
ing in  his  study;  for  during  the  period  of  his  retire- 
ment from  public  labours,  he  prepared  some  of  his 
most  important  works  for  the  press. 

Though  disqualified  for  serving  his  flock,  by  pub- 
lic preaching,  his  solicitude  for  their  welfare  con- 
tinued to  be  felt,  and  he  did  not  desert  them,  but 
retained  his  office  of  pastor  until  he  could  see  them 
provided  with  a  faithful  and  orthodox  minister,  on 
whom  he  might  devolve  both  the  cliarge  and  the 


262 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


benefice.  At  the  same  time,  he  was  very  attentive 
to  the  instruction  of  his  own  family,  in  private.  On 
every  Friday  evening,  he  delivered  an  expository 
lecture  on  the  Catechism,  which  he  had  prepared  for 
his  people,  in  which  he  beautifully  unfolded  the  divine 
attributes — the  primeval  and  fallen  state  of  man;  the 
means  of  his  recovery;  the  nature  of  faith  and  re- 
pentance; and  the  doctrine  of  the  sacraments.  His 
parlour  was  an  excellent  school  for  profitable  instruc- 
tion. For  some  time  he  had  a  kind  of  private  semi- 
nary in  his  house,  for  the  instruction  of  young  gentle- 
men; and  many  foreigners  sought  a  residence  with 
him,  that  they  might  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his  advice 
in  their  studies.  And  under  his  tuition,  these  stu- 
dents were  built  up  in  piety  as  well  as  learning.  His 
skill  in  polite  literature  was  much  admired,  at  home 
and  abroad.  He  carried  on  a  correspondence  with 
Salmasius  and  Hornbeck,  two  of  the  most  learned 
theologians  living,  and  also  with  other  learned  for- 
eigners. 

When  certain  officers  of  the  army  had  formed  the 
determination  to  bring  the  king  to  a  public  trial,  Gat- 
aker  was  one  of  those  ministers  in  the  province  of 
London,  who  subscribed  a  very  bold  and  judicious 
remonstrance  to  the  general  and  army,  against  that 
design.  To  all  the  measures  of  the  army,  in  bringing 
about  the  death  of  the  king,  he  openly  avowed  his 
opposition.  He  also  protested  against  the  subsequent 
changes  introduced  into  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
polity.  In  consequence  of  his  known  sentiments  on 
these  subjects,  he  was  very  unpopular  with  the  ruling 
powers,  and  was  subjected  to  no  small  suspicion. 

Though  he  felt  that  he  was  now  drawing  near  to 
the  close  of  his  earthly  career,  yet  he  was  not  permit- 
ted to  enjoy  the  undisturbed  repose  which  he  desired, 
for  he  was  most  virulently  attacked  by  Mr.  William 
Lilly,  the  famous  astrologer.  Gataker,who  was  tho- 
roughly possessed  of  all  the  ancient  and  modern 
learning  which  has  relation  to  this  dark  science,  de- 
fended himself  with  great  strength  of  argument,  and 
clearly  detected  the  plausible  sophisms  which  were 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY. 


263 


brought  forward  in  support  of  the  fallacious  art  of 
astrology.     The  ground  of  this  attack,  was  his  "  An- 
notations" on  Jer.  x.  2;  in  which  he  had,  with  strong 
sense  and  sound  learning,  completely  destroyed  the 
credit  of  the  delusive  art.     This  aroused  the  whole 
tribe  of  astrologers  against  him,  from  the  greatest  to 
the  smallest.    They  were  greatly  offended,  and  wrote 
against  him  with  great  violence.     In  his  answer  to 
Lilly,  he  refutes  all  his  slanders,  directed  personally 
against  himself,  and  goes  into  an  account  of  all  the 
preferments  which  he  had  received,  and  the  means  of 
his  obtaining  them.     He  also  repels  the  accusation 
that  he  was  an  advocate  for  a  high  prelatical  power 
in  the  church,  and  declares  that  his  real  sentiments 
had  always  been  in  favour  of  a  moderate  Episcopacy. 
When  seized  with  the  fever  which  terminated  his 
life,  and  which  he  apprehended  would  be  fatal,  he 
directed  that  his  friend  Mr.  Ashe  should  be  sent  for; 
and  when  he  came,  he  addressed  him  in  the  following 
words:  ^'  I  am  now  conflicting  with  my  last  adversary, 
though  I  believe  the  sting  is  taken  out.     Nature  will 
struggle,  but  I  humbly  submit  to  the  good  pleasure 
of  God.     I  heartily  beg  the  pardon  of  my  many  sins, 
especially  of  my  want  of  sedulity  and  fidelity,  in  my 
public  and  private  charge;  hoping  to  be  washed  with 
Christ's  blood,  and  desiring  to  be  translated  out  of 
this  restless  condition.     I  expect  daily,  yea,  hourly, 
to  be  translated  into  that  everlasting  rest  which  God 
hath  prepared  for  them  who  are  interested  in  his 
Christ.     And  I  pray  God  to  bless  you  and  his  holy 
ministry,  every  where."     During  the  whole  time  of 
his  last  sickness,  his  faith,  patience,  and  resignation 
to  the  will  of  the  Lord,  were  very  conspicuous.     His 
mind  was  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  his  sin, 
and  the  necessity  of  the  Saviour  whose  name  is  called 
Jesus,  because  he  saves  his  people  from  their  sins. 
To  an  aged  servant,  who  attended  on  him,  and  said, 
"that  his  head  did  not  lie  right,"  he  said, ''  It  will  lie 
right  in   my  coffin."     Being  afliicted  with  extreme 
pain,  he  cried   out,  "How   long,   0    Lord!— Come 
speedily."     Finding  a  great  change  taking  place,  he 


264  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

called  for  his  sister,  his  son,  and  his  daughter,  and 
gave  them  his  last  charge,  saying,  "  My  heart  fails, 
and  my  strength  fails;  but  God  is  my  fortress  and  the 
strong  rock  of  my  salvation.  Into  thy  hands,  there- 
fore, I  commend  my  soul,  for  thou  hast  redeemed 
me,  0  God  of  truth."  Then  he  said  to  his  son,  "Son, 
yon  have  a  great  charge;  look  to  it.  Instruct  your 
wife  and  family  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  discharge 
your  ministry  conscientiously."  Then  he  addressed 
his  sister:  "  Sister,  I  thought  you  might  have  gone 
before  me;  but  God  calls  me  first.  I  hope  we  shall 
meet  in  heaven;  I  pray  God  bless  you."  Then  turn- 
ing to  his  daughter,  he  said,  "  Daughter,  mind  the 
world  less,  and  God  more;  for  all  things,  without  re- 
ligion and  the  fear  of  God,  are  worth  nothing — all 
things,  without  piety  and  the  true  fear  of  God,  are 
worth  nothing."  He  also  gave  advice  that  his  son 
Draper,  who  was  a  man  of  worldly  substance,  should 
entertain  some  godly  minister  in  his  house,  to  teach 
his  children  and  instruct  his  family.  He  warmly  ex- 
horted them  all  to  concord,  and  begged  them,  after 
some  further  exhortations,  to  lay  to  heart  the  words 
of  a  dying  man.  He  then  requested  them  all  to 
withdraw,  and  leave  him  to  himself 

He  expired  on  the  27th  of  July,  1654,  in  the  sev- 
enty-ninth year  of  his  age.  *' Thus  he  came  to  his 
grave  in  a  full  age,  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  his 
season."  His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  his 
much  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Simeon  Ashe,  from  Pro  v. 
xvi.  31:  "The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory,  if  it 
be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness." 

Mr.  Gataker  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  able, 
learned,  and  pious  divines  of  his  age.  He  was  gifted 
with  an  extraordinary  strength  of  memory.  He  re- 
tained what  he  read  without  the  aid  of  a  common- 
place book;  and  his  reading  was  very  extensive,  as 
appears  by  the  many  quotations  from  authors  of  all 
classes,  in  his  numerous  writings.  His  apprehension 
was  quick,  his  judgment  sound,  and  his  taste  correct 
and  highly  cultivated.  Mr.  Echard  says,  "that  he 
was  remarkable  for  his  skill  in  Greek  and  Hebrew, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


265 


and  the  most  celebrated  among  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines," and  adds,  "  It  is  hard  to  say  which  was  most 
remarkable,  his  exemplary  piety  and  charity,  his 
poUte  literature,  or  his  humiUty  and  modesty  in  re- 
fusing preferments."  Among  foreigners,  he  was  held 
in  as  high  esteem  as  at  home.  The  learned  MorehofF 
says,  "Of  all  the  critics  of  this  age,  who  have  em- 
ployed their  pens  in  illustrating  polite  learning,  there 
are  few,  if  indeed  any,  who  ought  to  be  preferred  to 
Thomas  Gataker,  for  diligence  and  accuracy,  in  ex- 
plaining those  authors  whose  writings  he  has  examin- 
ed." He  is  styled  by  one,  "A  writer  of  infinite  learning 
and  accurate  judgment;"  and  his  name  as  a  scholar, 
stands  on  a  level  with  those  of  Selden  and  Usher. 

Gataker  would  never  suffer  his  portrait  to  be  taken, 
but  the  following  is  said  to  be  a  just  description  of 
his  person: — he  was  of  a  middle  stature,  of  a  thin 
bodily  habit,  had  a  lively  countenance  and  a  fresh 
complexion.  He  was  temperate  in  diet,  and  exceed- 
ingly studious,  but  he  did  not  seclude  himself  from 
useful  company.  He  was  an  affectionate  husband,  a 
discreet  parent,  a  faithful  friend,  and  a  kind  benefac- 
tor. He  was,  at  the  same  time,  a  champion  for  the 
truth  and  an  eminent  lover  of  peace. 

The  following  lines,  supposed  to  be  written  by 
him,  will  show  the  habitual  temper  of  his  mind: 

"  I  thirst  for  thirstincss ;  I  weep  for  tears, 
Well  pleased  I  am,  to  be  displeased  thus : 
The  only  thing  I  fear,  is  want  of  fears ; 
Suspecting,  I  am  not  suspicious. 
I  cannot  choose  but  live,  because  I  die ; 
And,  when  I  am  not  dead,  how  glad  am  I. 
Yet,  when  I  am  thus  glad  for  sense  of  pain, 
And  careful  am,  lest  I  should  careless  be. 
Then  do  I  grieve  for  being  glad  again, 
And  fear  lest  carelessness  take  care  from  me. 
Amid  these  restless  thoughts,  this  rest  I  find. 
For  those  who  rest  not  here,  there's  rest  behind.'* 

The  following  are  the  titles  of  Mr.  Gataker's  pub- 
lished writings: 

1.  Of  the  Nature  and  Use  of  Lots.  1619.  Second 
edit,  enlarged,  1627. 


266 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


2.  A  Just  Defence  of  the  same,  against  M.  J.  B., 
1623. 

3.  Thomse  Gatakeri  Londinatis  Antithesis,  Partim 
GuUelmi  Amesii,  partim  Gisberti  Vostii,  De  Sorte, 
Thesibus  Keposita.   1683. 

4.  A  Discourse  of  Transubstantiation,  with  a  De- 
fence.  1624. 

5.  David's  Instructor. 

6.  The  Christian  Man's  Care. 

7.  The  Spiritual  Watch;  or  Christ's  General 
Watchword.   1622. 

8.  The  Gain  of  Godliness.     1  Tim.  vi.  6. 

9.  The  Just  Man's  Joy,  with  Signs  of  Sincerity. 

10.  Jacob's  Thankfuhiess 

11.  David's  Remembrancer. 

12.  Noah's  Obedience. 

13.  Memorial  of  England's  Deliverance  from  the 
Spanish  Invasion,  in  1588. 

14.  Sorrow  for  Zion. 

15.  God's  Parley  with  Princes,  with  an  Appeal 
from  them  to  Him. 

16.  Eleazer's  Prayer;  a  Marriage  Sermon. 

17.  A  Good  Wife,  God's  Gift. 

18.  A  Wife,  Indeed. 

19.  Marriage  Duties. 

20.  Death's  Advantage. 

21.  The  Benefit  of  a  Good  Name,  and  a  Good 
End. 

22.  Abraham's  Decease;  at  the  funeral  of  the  Rev. 
Richard  Stock. 

23.  Jeroboam's  Son's  Decease. 

24.  Christian  Constancy,  Crowned  by  Christ. 

25.  The  Decease  of  Lazarus. 

26.  St.  Stephen's  Last  Will  and  Testament.    1638. 

27.  Fran.  Gomari  Disputationes  Elencticse,  De  Jus- 
tificatione.  1640. 

28.  Animadversiones  In  J.  Piscut,  &c. 

29.  Mr.  Anthony  Wotton's  Defence.    1641. 

30.  A  True  Relation  of  Passages  between  Mr.  Wot- 
ton  and  Mr.  Walker. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  267 

31.  An  Answer  to  Mr.  Walker's  Vindication.   1642. 

32.  Stricturse  in  Barth.  Wigelini  Sang.  De  Obedi- 
entia  Christi.    1653. 

33.  A  Defence  of  Mr.  Bradshaw  against  Mr.  J. 
Canne. 

34.  God's  Eye  on  his  Israel.  Numb,  xxiii.  21. 
1645. 

35.  De  Nomine  Tetragrammato  Dissertaiio. 

36.  Annotations  on  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  and  Lamen- 
tations. 

37.  De  Dipthongis,  Philologica  Dissertatio.     1646. 

38.  A  Mistake,orMisconstruciion  Removed,  against 
John  Saltmarsh. 

39.  Shadows  without  Substance,  in  answer  to  Salt- 
marsh's  Shadows  Flying  Away. 

40.  Mysterious  Clouds  and  Mists,  in  answer  to 
Mr.  John  Simpson.    1648. 

41.  Thomae  Gatakeri  Londinatis,  De  Novi  Testa- 
menti  Stylo  Dissertatio.   1648. 

42.  De  Baptismatis  Infantilis  Vi  and  Efficacia,  Dis- 
putatio.   1654. 

43.  Stricturae  ad  Epistolam  J.  Daven,De  Baptismo 
Infantum. 

44.  Marci  Antonini  Meditationes.  Translation  and 
notes. 

45.  Opera  Critica,  and  Adversaria  Miscellanea. 

46.  Thomae  Gatakeri,  Diss,  de  Tetragrammato  suae 
Vindicatio  Adversus  Capellum.  1652. 

47.  A  Discourse  Apologetical. 

48.  An  Antidote  against  Error,  Concerning  Justi- 
fication. 

Gibbon,  John,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster,  was  minister  at  Waltham,  from 
which  place  he  was  ejected  by  the  act  of  uniformity, 
in  1662.  He  is  marked  by  Neal,  as  giving  constant 
attendance  at  the  Assembly's  deliberations. 

Gillespie,  George,  was  the  son  of  John  Gillespie, 
minister  at  Kirkaldy.  He  is  said  to  have  been  edu- 
cated at  St.  Andrews;  but  scarcely  any  memorials  of 


268  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

his  early  life  remain.  He  was  chaplain  both  to  the 
earl  of  Cassils,  and  to  the  viscount  of  Keniure,  and 
was  ordained  minister  of  Wemys,  by  the  laying  on 
the  hands  of  the  presbytery,  without  the  knowledge 
of  the  bishop.  He  was  one  of  those  who  took  the 
national  covenant,  in  the  year  1638.  He  was,  while 
very  young,  the  author  of  a  work  entitled,  "  Eng- 
lish Popish  Ceremonies;"  which  was  written  with 
so  much  learning  and  ability,  that  it  was  thought 
scarcely  possible  that  so  young  a  person  could  have 
been  the  author  of  it.  In  1G41,  he  had  a  call  from 
the  town  of  Aberdeen,  but  by  the  influence  of  the 
Lord  Commissioner,  added  to  his  own,  he  was  con- 
tinued at  Wemys:  but  in  1642,  he  was  translated  by 
the  Assembly  to  Edinburgh;  for  such  talents  could 
not  be  hidden,  and  in  the  following  year,  he  was  sent 
as  one  of  the  four  commissioners,  from  Scotland  to 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster.  Although 
he  was  yet  a  young  man,  yet  he  acted  a  very  distin- 
guished part  in  this  famous  Assembly.  For  days  in 
succession,  he  successfully  contended  with  Selden 
and  Lightfoot,  giants  in  Jewish  Antiquities.  Mr. 
Baillie,  who  was  present,  and  an  excellent  judge, 
says,  in  his  Letters,  written  at  the  time,  "  None  in 
all  the  company  did  reason  more,  and  more  perti- 
nently than  Mr.  Gillespie.  That  is  an  excellent 
youth,  my  heart  blesses  God,  on  his  behalf.'' — Again, 
"There  is  no  man,  whose  parts,  in  public  debate,  I 
so  much  admire.''  He  has  studied  so  accurately,  all 
the  points  which  ever  yet  came  before  our  Assembly. 
He  has  gotten  so  ready,  so  assured,  so  solid  a  way  of 
public  debating,  that  though  there  are  in  the  Assem- 
bly divers  very  excellent  men,  yet  in  my  poor  judg- 
ment, there  is  not  one  who  speaks  more  rationally, 
and  to  the  point,  than  that  brave  youth  has  ever 
done;  so  that  his  absence  would  be  prejudicial  to  our 
whole  cause,  and  unpleasant  to  those  who  wish  it 
well."  On  one  occasion,  when  both  the  Assembly 
and  the  Parliament  were  convened,  a  long  premedi- 
tated discourse  was  delivered  in  favour  of  Erastian- 
ism.     Mr.  Gillespie,  being  urged  to  answer  it  by  his 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  269 

colleagues,  repeated  the  substance  of  the  whole  dis- 
course, and  refuted  it  to  the  admiration  of  all  persons 
present.  And  what  excited  most  admiration  was, 
that  though  the  members  were  accustomed  to  take 
notes  of  what  was  spoken  in  the  Assembly,  to  help 
their  memory;  and  though  Mr.  Gillespie  appeared 
to  be  busy  with  his  pencil,  a  person  who  sat  by  him, 
upon  casting  his  eye  over  his  note  book,  observed 
that  he  had  not  written  down  a  word  of  the  speech, 
but  only  short  prayers,  such  as  "Lord  send  light — 
Give  assistance — Lord  defend  thine  own  cause !'^ 

After  his  return  to  Scotland,  he  was  much  em- 
ployed in  the  affairs  of  the  church;  and  was  chosen 
moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1648;  but 
soon  afterwards,  he  was  taken  sick,  and  died  towards 
the  close  of  the  same  year;  v/hen  he  was  scarcely 
past  the  prime  of  life,  and  his  loss  was  greatly  la- 
mented. The  Parliament  and  Committee  of  Estates, 
were  so  sensible  of  his  worth,  that  they  voted  a  thou- 
sand pounds  to  his  widow  and  children.  Mr.  Gil- 
lespie was  intimately  acquainted  with  the  original 
languages  of  Scripture,  and  had  studied  the  subject 
of  church  government  as  accurately  as  any  of  his 
contemporaries;  and  his  zeal  appears  to  have  been 
pure,  and  his  life  holy. 

His  works  are: 

1.  Popish  English  Ceremonies,  obtruded  on  the 
Church  of  Scotland. 

2.  The  Government  of  the  Church  of  Scotland. 

3.  A  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  from 
Ezek.  xliii.  IL;  a  Fast  Sermon.     March  27,  1644. 

4.  A  Fast  Sermon,  before  the  House  of  Peers,  from 
Mai.  iii.  2. 

5.  Aaron's  Rod  Blossoming,  or  the  Divine  Ordi- 
nance of  Church  Government  Vindicated. 

6.  Miscellaneous  Questions. 

Gipps,  George,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster,  was  rector  of  Ayleston,  in  Lei- 
cestershire. He  is  marked  by  Mr.  Neal,  as  constantly 
attending  the  sessions  of  the  Assembly.     He  pub- 


270 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


lished  a  sermon  preached  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, from  Psalm  xlvi.  I.  He  seems  to  have  been  a 
pious  and  judicious  man. 

Gibson,  Samuel,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  had  the  character  of  being  a 
learned,  pious,  and  judicious  divine.  When  he  came 
to  the  Assembly,  he  was  for  some  lime  preacher  at 
Margaret's  Church,  in  Westminster. 

Mr.  Gibson  published  a  discourse  preached  before 
the  House  of  Commons,  entitled  "The  Rnin  of  the 
Authors  and  Fomenters  of  Civil  Wars,"  from  2  Sam. 
xvii.  14. 

GooDE,  William,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  was  pastor  of  Denton,  in  the 
county  of  Norfolk,  in  England.  He  was  one  of  those 
who  were  constant  in  their  attendance  on  the  business 
of  the  Assembly.     He  published  two  sermons. 

Goodwin,  Thomas,  was  born  at  Rolesby,  county 
of  Norfolk,  October  5,  1600.  His  parents  were  pious 
and  respectable,  and  watched  over  his  early  edu- 
cation with  sedulous  care.  Being  designed  for  the 
ministry,  he  was  brought  up  in  "the  nurture  and  ad- 
monition of  the  Lord;"  and  received  the  rudiments 
of  classical  learning;  so  that  when  only  in  his  four- 
teenth year,  he  was  entered  a  student  in  Christ's 
Church  College,  Cambridge.  Here  he  continued  six 
years,  and  applied  himself  with  great  diligence  to  his 
studies;  so  that  he  secured  the  regard  of  his  tutors, 
and  attracted  attention  in  the  University.  In  1619, 
he  removed  to  Catherine  Hall,  of  which  he  was 
chosen  lecturer  for  the  ensuing  year;  and  of  which 
he  became  afterwards  a  fellow.  For  some  time,  he 
wasanadmirer  of  the  preaching  of  Doctor  (afterwards 
Bishop)  Senhouse,  whose  sermons  were  adorned  with 
flowers  of  wit  and  human  learning,  collected  from  the 
fathers,  poets,  and  historians.  This  was,  at  that  time, 
the  fashionable  mode  of  preaching  in  the  University. 
At  that  time,  however,  he  had  small  experience  of 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  271 

the  deep  corruption  of  his  own  nature;  or  of  the  ne- 
cessity and  worth  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Mr.  Goodwin  has  left  a  very  particular  account  of 
his  early  religious  experiences,  from  which  it  appears, 
that  at  a  very  early  period  he  had  lively  impressions 
of  religion.  Soon  after  entering  the  University,  he 
took  the  sacrament,  having  first  carefully  examined 
into  his  character,  by  the  help  of  "  Ursin's  Cate- 
chism;'^ and  he  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  all  the 
marks  of  grace  there  laid  down,  he  found  in  himself. 
After  communicating,  he  found  himself  cheered  in  a 
wonderful  manner,  and  made  sure  that  he  was  on 
the  way  to  heaven;  and  was  greatly  affected  with  a 
sense  of  God's  goodness  and  love,  in  dying  for  such  a 
worthless  creature.  As  the  next  season  of  commu- 
nion approached,  he  made  great  preparation  for  the 
reception  of  the  ordinance.  In  the  mean  time,  he 
went  to  hear  Mr.  Sibbs,  whose  lectures  were  in  high 
estimation  among  the  Puritans  in  the  University,  and 
read  Calvin's  Institutes  with  great  delight.  But  when 
he  had  taken  his  place  in  the  chapel,  and  was  ready 
to  commune,  being  very  young,  and  the  smallest  per- 
son in  the  University,  his  tutor  sent  to  him  to  leave 
the  place.  By  this  rebuff  he  was  greatly  tried  and 
mortified,  for  he  had  entertained  high  expectations  of 
the  benefit  which  he  was  to  receive  from  this  commu- 
nion. «'  For,"  says  he,  "  I  verily  thought  that  if  I  re- 
ceived that  sacrament,  I  should  be  confirmed,  and 
should  never  fall  away."  After  this  disappointment, 
he  left  off  praying,  through  'discouragement;  and  de- 
sisted from  going  to  hear  Mr.  Sibbs  any  more.  He  no 
longer  gave  himself  to  the  reading  of  sound  divinity, 
but  applied  himself  to  such  studies  as  he  thought 
would  prepare  him  for  the  kind  of  preaching  then  in 
vogue,  which  Mr.  Senhouse  brought  in,  and  which 
was  then  greatly  admired  in  the  University.  The 
ideas  of  religion  which  he  found  most  prevalent  were, 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  did  move  on  the  heart,  when,  if 
the  soul  in  the  exercise  of  its  own  free  will,  encour- 
aged and  concurred  in  the  good  work,  it  would  goon 
from  one  degree  to  another ;  but  if  the  subject  of  these 


272  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

good  iaipressions,  through  the  temptations  of  the 
world,  or  tlie  solicitations  of  the  flesh,  resisted,  or 
neglected  these  motives  of  grace,  then  the  spirit  would 
depart  from  him,  and  he  would  return  to  his  former 
state;  but  that  these  strivings  or  drawings  were  com- 
monly repeated  after  certain  intervals,  and  with  some 
frequently,  and  for  a  long  time.  About  this  time, 
however,  lie  became  acquainted  with  some  young 
persons,  who  made  known  to  him  the  operations  of 
the  Spirit  on  their  minds,  which  had  led  to  deep 
humiliation,  faith,  and  a  change  of  heart;  and  these 
he  observed  to  be  steadfast,  and  did  not  fall  away  as 
the  others.  The  Arminian  doctrine,  however,  exactly 
tallied  with  his  own  experience,  in  the  natural  work- 
ings of  conscience,  under  the  influence  of  common 
grace;  but  the  experience  and  conduct  of  the  youths 
before  mentioned,  led  him  to  believe  that  he  was  not 
right;  but  he  could  not  conceive  wherein  the  defect 
lay.  Still,  however,  at  the  approach  of  every  sacra- 
ment, he  set  himself  to  prepare,  and  went  through  a 
seeming  repentance;  but  as  soon  as  the  solemnity  was 
over,  he  returned  again  to  his  careless  and  sinful 
courses.  At  length  he  began  to  give  up  all  hope  of 
ever  being  better,  and  determined  to  engage  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  glory,  applause,  and  emoluments  of 
this  world;  and  to  use  all  possible  means  for  attain- 
ing these  objects. 

One  day,  when  going  to  be  merry  with  his  com- 
panions, a  bell  tolled  from  St.  Edmund's,  for  a  funeral. 
One  of  the  company  said  there  was  to  be  a  sermon, 
and  pressed  him  to  hear  it.  He  was  loath  to  go  in, 
for,  he  says,  ^' I  loved  not  preaching;  especially  that 
kind  of  it  that  good  men  used,  and  which  I  thought 
to  be  dull  stufl";  but  seeing  many  scholars  going  in,  I 
thought  it  was  some  eminent  man;  or  if  it  were  not 
so,  that  I  would  come  out  again.  I  went  in  before 
the  hearse  came,  and  took  a  seat,  and  fain  would  I 
have  been  gone,  but  shame  made  me  stay.  I  was 
never  so  loath  to  hear  a  sermon  in  my  life.  But  on 
inquiring  who  was  to  preach,  they  told  me,  Dr.  Barn- 
bridge,  which  made  me  the  more  willing  to  stay,  be- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  273 

cause  he  was  a  witty  man.  His  text  was,  Luke  xix. 
41,  42:  ^And  when  he  was  come  near  and  beheld 
the  city,  he  wept  over  it,  saying,  if  thou  hadst  known, 
even  thou,  at  least  in  this  thy  day,  the  things  which 
belong  unto  thy  peace,  but  now  they  are  hidden  from 
thine  eyes.'  ''  As  the  preacher  proceeded,  and  opened 
the  text,  Goodwin's  attention  became  rivetted.  And 
when  he  insisted  on  the  words,  this  thy  clay,  saying, 
every  man  had  his  day,  he  became  affected,  as  he 
had  formerly  been  under  sermons.  But  when  the 
preacher  came  to  the  application,  and  vehemently 
pressed  upon  his  hearers  the  duty  of  losing  no  time 
in  making  their  peace  with  God,  he  became  so  much 
impressed,  that  he  said  to  his  companion  who  had 
brought  him  there,  "  I  hope  to  be  the  better  for  this 
sermon  as  long  as  I  live."  Immediately  upon  com- 
ing out  of  the  church,  he  went  to  his  room,  and  did 
not  return  to  his  companions  who  were  waiting  for 
him;  and  though  they  sent  after  him,  he  would  not 
come.  He  felt  as  one  struck  down  by  a  mighty  power. 
At  first  his  grosser  sins  came  to  his  remembrance,  and 
thus  the  work  of  conviction  went  on  from  one  thing 
to  another.  And  without  the  least  effort  to  recollect 
his  sins,  they  came  up  in  array  before  his  mind.  All 
the  idea  of  conversion  he  before  had,  was,  that  a  man 
was  troubled  in  conscience  for  his  sins,  and  then  re- 
ceived comfort.  But  now  he  seemed  to  be,  as  it  were, 
passively  led  by  the  Spirit,  one  set  of  ideas  succeeding 
another,  in  regular  order,  without  any  direction  of  his 
own  thoughts.  ^'  An  abundant  discovery  was  made 
unto  me,"  says  he,  ''of  my  inward  lusts  and  concu- 
piscence. And  I  was  amazed  to  see  with  what  greedi- 
ness I  had  sought  the  gratification  of  every  sin."  He 
had  now  such  a  view  of  the  root  and  fountain  of  his 
iniquity,  that  he  ceased  from  going  about  to  estab- 
lish his  own  righteousness,  which  he  never  before 
had  done.  He  had  such  a  sense  of  the  exceeding  sin- 
fulness of  his  sins,  that  he  "abhorred  himself,  and  re- 
pented in  dust  and  ashes."  He  was  humbled  under 
God's  mighty  hand.  He  was  deeply  convinced,  "  that 
in  him,  that  is,  in  his  flesh,  dwelt  no  good  thing." 

18 


274  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

And  after  tracing  his  corruption  to  its  source,  he  found 
it  to  have  originated  in  the  first  sin  of  man;  that  in 
him  all  had  sinned,  agreeably  to  that  of  Paul,  "By- 
one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world, and  death  by  sin; 
and  so  death  passed  on  all  men,  because  that  all  have 
sinned."  "•'•  This,"  says  he,  "caused  me  necessarily 
to  conceive,  that  it  was  the  guilt  or  demerit  of  that 
one  man's  disobedience  that  corrupted  my  nature. 
Under  such  apprehensions  as  these,  did  my  spirit  lie 
convicted  of  this  great  truth,  that  being  gone  to  bed 
some  hours  before,  I  rose  out  of  bed,  being  alone,  and 
solemnly  fell  down  before  God,  the  Father  of  all  the 
family  in  heaven,  and  did,  of  my  own  accord,  assume 
and  take  upon  me  the  guilt  of  that  sin,  as  truly  as 
any  of  my  actual  sins," 

How  long  he  remained  under  the  awful  conviction 
of  sin,  which  the  Holy  Spirit  had  wrought  in  him,  he 
was  not  able  to  tell;  but  he  lay  bound  very  closely 
under  the  pressure  of  divine  wrath,  as  being  subject 
to  the  righteous  judgment  of  the  Lord.  But  God, 
who  is  rich  in  mercy  to  relieve  all  who  call  upon  him, 
soon  set  his  soul  free  from  trouble.  When  his  soul 
was  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  the  Father  of  mercies, 
the  Lord  of  Life,  said  unto  him,  Live;  yea  he  said 
unto  him  live;  and  having  miparted  unto  him  a  new 
life  and  spirit,  said  also  for  his  comfort,  "  Thy  sins 
which  are  many  are  forgiven." — "'  Though  your  sins 
be  as  scarlet  they  shall  be  white  as  snow,  though  they 
be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool."  Like 
Saul,  he  obtained  ??2erc^,  and  found,  "  That  the  grace 
of  our  Lord  was  exceedingly  abundant,  with  faith  and 
love,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus."  And  that  "  It  is  a 
faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that 
Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners;" 
of  whom  he  felt  himself  to  be  chief.  Thus  was  he 
received  into  favour  through  Christ — no  more  an  alien, 
but  a  son  and  an  heir;  and  thus  was  he  renewed  in 
the  spirit  of  his  mind;  for  henceforth  he  experienced 
a  permanent  change  in  the  state  of  his  mind.  New 
views,  new  motives,  new  hopes  and  fears — old  things 
were  done  away,  and  all  things  had  become  new. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  275 

Having  been  early  devoted  to  the  ministry,  by  his 
pious  parents,  he  was  now  made  sensible  of  the  im- 
portance of  that  sacred  office.  Instead  of  the  vain- 
glorious desire  of  excelling  in  eloquence,  which  had 
possessed  his  mind  before,  he  now  felt  actuated  by  an 
ardent  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom;  and  a  most  tender 
concern  for  the  salvation  of  precious  and  immortal 
souls.  Before,  he  had  sought  his  own  glory, and  now 
he  desired  above  all  things,  to  be  the  instrument  of 
promoting  the  glory  of  him  who  had  called  him  out 
of  darkness  into  the  marvellous  light  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ. 

He  was,  at  this  time,  a  great  admirer  of  Dr.  Preston. 
and  of  Dr.  Hill,  who  were  both  thorough  Calvinists, 
whom  he  frequently  heard  preach,  and  whose  senti- 
ments he  adopted.  But  though  Mr.  Goodwin  had 
experienced  a  real  change,  and  had  received  comfort 
in  believing;  yet  it  was  long  before  he  fully  under- 
stood the  freeness  of  the  grace  of  the  gospel.  "  I 
was,"  says  he,  *' for  several  years  kept  at  a  distance 
from  Christ,  and  engaged  in  searching  only  into  the 
signs  of  grace  in  me.  It  was  almost  seven  years,  ere 
I  was  taken  to  live  by  faith  on  Christ,  and  God's  free 
love,  which  are  alike  the  object  of  faith."  During 
this  period,  his  thoughts  were  intensely  exercised 
about  the  heinousness  of  his  sins;  and  the  conflict 
which  he  daily  experienced  between  the  flesh  and 
spirit.  But  at  the  close  of  this  period  of  distressing 
conflict,  he  fell  into  an  intimate  acquaintance  with 
Mr.  Price  of  Lynn,  who  was  the  means,  under  God, 
of  leading  him  into  the  innermost  temple  of  divine 
love,  and  a  gracious  experimental  acquaintance  with 
his  divine  Saviour.  He  now  learned  to  live  by  faith 
in  Christ,  and  to  derive  from  him  life  and  strength  for 
sanctification,  and  all  comfort  and  joy  in  believing. 
This  servant  of  God  was  made  the  instrument,  by  his 
letters,  conversation,  and  prayers,  of  pouring  conso- 
lation into  his  wounded  spirit. 

In  the  year  1628,  Mr.  Goodwin  was  chosen  lecturer 
of  Trinity  Church,  Cambridge,  though  not  without  op- 


276  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

position  from  bishop  Buckridge,  of  Ely.  The  bishop 
wished  to  exact  from  Goodwin  a  promise,  that  he 
would  never  preach  on  any  of  the  controverted  points 
of  theology.  Goodwin  replied,  that  so  many  of  the 
doctrines  of  Christianity  were  controverted,  that  if  he 
were  to  follow  this  rule,  there  would  be  very  little 
left  to  preach  about;  and  that  he  was  persuaded  the 
king  did  not  mean  to  lay  him  under  an  interdict  from 
confuting  the  errors  of  popery.  And  so  he  was  ad- 
mitted; and  was,  in  1682,  presented,  by  the  king  him- 
self, with  the  vicarage  of  the  same  church.  In  this 
situation  he  was  much  followed  by  the  Puritans,  Avho 
were  now  rapidly  increasing  in  numbers,  in  this  Uni- 
versity, as  well  as  in  the  kingdom  at  large. 

In  the  memoirs  of  Dr.  Goodwin's  life,  it  is  said, 
"  that  he  was  the  happy  instrument  of  turning  many 
persons  to  the  love  and  practice  of  serious  religion. 
He  says  himself,  "after  I  had  been  seven  years  from 
Cambridge,  I  had,  well  nigh  every  month,  hearty  ac- 
knowledgments from  several  young  men,  who  had 
received  the  light  of  their  conversion  by  my  ministry, 
while  I  was  in  the  University  of  Cambridge.  And 
this  was  the  great  encouragement  I  had  to  return 
again  to  the  University,  having  so  frequently  enjoyed 
the  testimony  of  the  fruit  of  my  labours,  while  I  was 
preacher  at  Cambridge:  and  what  the  success  has 
been  at  Oxford,  I  leave  to  Christ  till  the  latter  day." 
His  preaching,  at  first,  was  chiefly  calculated  to 
awaken  the  conscience  and  produce  terror;  but  upon 
his  obtaining  the  sweet  experience  of  the  heavenly 
refreshing  comforts  which  flow  from  the  distinct 
knowledge  of  Christ,  and  free  justification  by  his  fin- 
ished righteousness,  he  became  a  zealous  preacher  of 
the  glorious  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  for  the  con- 
solation of  such  distressed  consciences  as  his  had  been. 
No  doubt  he  derived  benefit  from  a  hint  which  Dr. 
Sibbs  one  day  gave  him,  in  relation  to  this  matter. 
''Young  man,''  said  he,  "if  you  ever  would  do  good, 
you  must  preach  the  gospel,  and  the  free  grace  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus."  It  was  after  this  that  he  wrote 
the  sermons,  entitled,  "The  Glory  of  the  Gospel," 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  277 

which  are  printed  in  the  fifth  volume  of  his  works; 
and  which  he  was  accustomed  to  call  his  evangelical 
first  fruits.  The  account  of  the  preservation  of  these 
sermons,  is  so  remarkable,  that  the  anecdote  deserves 
to  be  mentioned  here.  His  portmanteau  which  con- 
tained them  was  cut  off  from  his  horse,  in  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night,  by  a  thief,  just  opposite  to  St.  An- 
drew's Church-yard,  in  Holborn.  The  clerk,  or  sex- 
ton, coming  on  the  morning  of  the  Lord's  day,  to  ring 
the  bell,  found  a  bundle  of  papers  lying  at  the  root  of. 
a  large  tree.  These  were  Mr.  Goodwin's  evangelical 
sermons,  which  were  only  known  to  be  his  by  some 
other  papers  which  contained  his  name  and  that  of  a 
bookseller,  who  was  his  particular  friend.  The  papers 
were  all  carried  to  this  man,  and  so  they  were  pre- 
served to  edify  God's  people  for  generations  to  come. 

In  the  year  1634,  Mr.  Goodwin  being  dissatisfied 
with  the  terms  of  conformity,  relinquished  his  prefer- 
ments, and  left  the  University.  No  doubt,  this  was 
a  severe  trial  to  one  who  had  spent  so  m.any  years  in 
this  literary  retreat,  where  he  had  been  the  recipient 
and  dispenser  of  so  many  spiritual  blessings;  but  it 
was  done  deliberately,  in  obedience  to  the  dictates  of 
his  conscience,  and  in  opposition  to  all  his  worldly 
interests. 

In  the  year  1638,  he  married  Elizabeth  Prescott, 
the  daughter  of  Alderman  Prescott.  She  was  really 
a  help-meet  for  him;  being  a  woman  of  very  sweet 
temper,  of  Uvely  wit,  and  of  sincere  piety.  By  her, 
God  gave  him  an  only  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  was 
married  to  Mr.  John  Mason,  a  citizen  of  London. 

In  1639,  Mr.  Goodwin,  with  others,  emigrated  to 
Holland,  to  enjoy  that  liberty  which  was  denied  to 
him  in  his  own  country.  In  that  country,  he  became 
the  pastor  of  an  Independent  congregation  at  Arnheim. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  long  Parliament,  he 
returned  to  London,  and  was  chosen  the  pastor  of  a 
church  there,  and  was  also  appointed  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster.  In  that 
Assembly,  he  was  one  of  the  dissenting  brethren,  as 
it  related  to  church  government.     His  son  has  in- 


278  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

formed  the  public,  that  his  father  kept  memoranda 
of  all  the  transactions  of  that  body,  which  are  still  in 
existence,  and  in  his  possession,  in  fourteen  or  fifteen 
volumes,  octavo. 

In  the  year  1647,  Mr.  Goodwin  had  an  invitation 
to  New  England,  from  Mr.  John  Cotton  and  other 
respectable  ministers  there;  and  he  was  much  inclined 
to  accept  the  invitation;  and  in  fact  had  put  his  library 
on  board  a  ship;  but  through  the  advice  of  friends, 
on  whose  judgment  he  placed  great  confidence,  he 
changed  his  purpose. 

His  first  wife  having  been  removed  at  an  early 
period  after  their  marriage,  in  1649  he  married,  as 
his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Hammond,  descended  of 
an  ancient  and  honourable  family,  who  also  proved 
a  help-meet  to  him;  and  by  whom  God  gave  him 
two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Goodwin  was  always  a  great  favourite  with  Oliver 
Cromwell;  who  highly  commended  him  as  an  emi- 
nent instrument  in  promoting  the  gospel,  and  a  great 
luminary  in  the  church.  By  his  influence,  he  was 
made  president  of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford,  in  1640. 
Here  he  formed  a  church  on  the  Independent  plan; 
and  was  very  diligent  in  promoting  the  interests  of 
learning  and  religion.  He  was  also  appointed  one 
of  the  Triers  of  ministers,  or  commissioners  for  the 
approbation  of  candidates  for  the  the  holy  ministry. 
He  now  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  prayers,  reading, 
and  meditation.  His  favourite  authors  were  such 
as  Augustine,  Calvin,  Musculus,  Zanchius,  Parasus, 
Walseus,  Gomarus,  and  Amesius.  But  his  chief  stu- 
dy was  the  Holy  Scriptures.  The  subjects  in  which 
he  most  delighted  were,  The  everlasting  love  and 
free  grace  of  God,  and  the  glorious  excellencies  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  These  were  the  life  of  his  soul; 
and  his  heart  was  deeply  affected  with  them;  and 
these  he  wrote  and  preached  with  a  spirit  which  can 
be  better  felt  than  described.  Though  he  read  much, 
he  spent  much  more  time  in  thinking;  and  it  was  by 
intense  thought  that  he  made  himself  master  of  the 
subject  which  he  treated. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  279 

By  the  great  fire  in  London,  Dr.  Goodwin  lost 
about  one  half  his  library,  to  the  value  of  five  hundred 
pounds  sterhng;  but  the  theological  part  of  his  library 
was,  for  the  most  part,  preserved. 

Dr.  Goodwin's  death  was  brought  about  by  a  fever, 
which  put  an  end  to  his  life  in  a  few  days.  As  his 
life  was  exemplary,  so  his  death  was  edifying.  In 
the  midst  of  the  violence  of  the  fever,  he  discovered 
such  strong  faith  and  assnrance  of  Christ's  love,  with 
such  holy  admiration  oi  free  grace,  and  with  such 
heavenly  expressions  of  gratitude,  praise,  and  joy,  as 
deeply  affected  all  who  heard  him.  When  one  prayed, 
"that  those  comforts  which  he  had  so  often  been  the 
means  of  pouring  into  the  distressed  souls  of  others, 
might  now  fill  his  own  soul,"  the  prayer  was  imme- 
diately answered,  in  the  abundant  consolation  which 
he  enjoyed.  He  rejoiced  in  the  thought  that  he  was 
dying,  and  going  to  enjoy  full  and  uninterrupted  com- 
munion with  God.  He  said,  "  I  am  going  to  the 
Three  Persons,  with  whom  I  have  had  communion. 
They  have  taken  me,  I  did  not  take  them.  I  shall 
be  changed  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.  All  my  lusts 
and  corruptions  I  shall  be  rid  of,  which  I  could  not  be 
here.  These  croaking  toads  will  fall  off  in  a  mo- 
ment." Speaking  of  the  illustrious  examples  of  faith 
recorded  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  Hebrews,  he  re- 
marked, "  All  these  died  in  faith.  I  never  could  have 
imagined  that  I  should  have  such  a  measure  of  faith 
at  this  hour.  No,  I  never  could  have  imagined  it. 
My  bow  abides  in  strength.  Is  Christ  divided  ?  No — 
I  have  the  whole  of  his  righteousness.  I  am  found 
in  Him;  not  in  my  own  righteousness  which  is  of  the 
law,  but  in  the  righteousness  which  is  of  God,  which 
is  by  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  loved  me  and  gave 
himself  for  me.  Christ  cannot  love  better  than  he 
doth.  I  think  I  cannot  love  Christ  better  than  I  do. 
I  am  swallowed  up  in  God." 

Directing  his  speech  to  his  two  sons,  he  exhorted 
them  to  value  the  privileges  of  the  covenant.  He 
said,  "It  has  taken  hold  of  me.  My  mother  was  a 
holy  woman,  she  spake  nothing  diminishing  of  it.     It 


280  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

is  a  privilege  which  cannot  be  valued  enough,  nor 
purchased  with  a  great  sum  of  money."  Then  he 
exhorted  them  to  do  nothing  to  provoke  God  to  reject 
them.  Then  he  added,  ''Now  I  shall  be  ever  with 
the  Lord."  With  this  triumphant  assurance,  this 
good  man  left  the  world.  His  death  occurred  on  the 
23d  of  February,  1680,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his 
age.  His  body  was  interred  in  Bunhill  Fields,  a  ground 
appropriated  to  the  burial  of  Dissenters,  near  London. 

Dr.  Goodwin  was  a  Calvinist,  of  the  supra-lapsa- 
rian  order.  He  was  deeply  persuaded  not  only  of  the 
truth,  but  of  the  holy  efficacy  of  the  doctrines  of  grace, 
and  therefore  preached  them  faithfully  to  his  people. 
Dr.  Calamy's  character  of  him  is,  "  That  he  was  a 
very  considerable  scholar,  and  an  eminent  divine,  and 
had  a  very  happy  faculty  in  descanting  upon  Scrip- 
ture, so  as  to  bring  forth  surprising  remarks,  which 
yet  tended  to  illustration."  Bishop  Wilkins,  in  his 
"  Gift  of  Preaching,"  places  him  among  the  most  emi- 
nent English  divines,  for  sermons  and  practical  divi- 
nity. Cotton  Mather,  in  his  "  Student  and  Preacher," 
says,  "If  you  would  see  sound  doctrine,  the  works  of 
Owen  have  it  for  you.  You  have  a  Goodwin,  who 
will  place  you  among  the  children  of  light,  and  will 
give  you  the  marrow  of  the  doctrine  which  is  accord- 
ing to  godliness.  He  often  soars  like  an  eagle;  you 
would  have  been  content,  if  sometimes,  a  little 
more  concisely."  His  style  is  familiar,  but  diffuse, 
inelegant,  obscure,  and  tedious;  but  his  sentiments 
are  so  spiritual,  evangelical,  and  judicious,  that  the 
sober-minded,  humble  Christian,  does  not  soon  grow 
weary  of  his  writings.  He  had  a  remarkable  talent 
for  exposition.  He  delighted  much  in  searching  into 
difficult  texts,  and  was  often  successful  in  elicitmg 
their  meaning. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  his  published  works: 

1.  A  Child  of  Light  walking  in  Darkness. 

2.  A  Return  of  Prayers. 

3.  The  Trial  of  a  Christian's  Growth.  On  John 
XV.  1,  2. 


WESTMINSTER  ASSEMBLY. 


281 


4.  The  Vanity  of  Thoughts  Discovered,  with  their 
Danger  and  Cure. 

5.  Aggravation  of  Sin;  and  Sinning  against  Know- 
ledge and  Mercy. 

•   6.  Christ  set  forth  in  his  Death,  Resurrection,  As- 
cension, &c. 

7.  Christ  the  Universal  Peace  Maker. 

8.  Zerubbabel's  Encouragement  to  finish  the  Tem- 
ple. 

9.  The  great  Interest  of  States  and  Kingdoms. 
Before  the  House  of  Commons. 

10.  The  World  to  Come. 

11.  Patience. and  its  Perfect  Work,  under  Sudden 
and  Sore  Trials. 

12.  The  Punishment  of  Sin  in  Hell.  A  Posthu- 
mous work. 

His  writings  are  contained  in  five  volumes,  folio, 
and  are  a  treasure. 

Gouge,  William,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Middlesex, 
England,  November  1, 1575,  of  respectable  and  pious 
parents,  who  took  much  pains  with  his  early  religious 
education.  When  old  enough,  he  was  sent  to  St. 
Paul's  School,  London,  and  afterwards  to  Eton.  Be- 
sides, he  spent  three  years  at  Felsted,  where  he  sat 
under  the  evano:elical  preaching  of  his  mother's  bro- 
ther, the  Rev.  Ezekiel  Culverwell,  and  derived  from 
it  great  benefit  to  his  soul.  Having  acquired  a  com- 
petent knowledge  of  the  classics,  in  the  grammar 
schools,  to  which  he  had  resorted,  he  was  elected  to 
King's  College,  Cambridge,  in  the  year  1595,  where 
he  pursued  his  studies  with  diligence  and  success. 
He  began  his  studies  early  in  the  morning,  and  con- 
tinued them  till  late  at  night.  During  his  first  three 
years  at  the  University,  he  did  not  sleep  one  night 
out  of  his  College.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  he 
was  chosen  fellow,  and  then  he  paid  a  visit  to  his 
friends;  but  he  soon  returned  to  resume  his  literary 
labours.  He  was  reckoned  not  only  a  good  scholar, 
but  an  able  disputant.  He  took  his  degrees  in  the 
arts  at  the  usual  time,  and  performed  with  applause, 


282 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


all  those  exercises  which  were  required  by  the  stat- 
utes of  the  University.  He  remained  nine  years  in 
the  College,  during  which  time  he  was  never  once 
absent  from  morning  prayers,  except  wlien  he  went 
to  visij;  his  friends.  His  custom  was  to  read  fifteen 
chapters  in  the  Bible  every  day :  five  early  in  the 
morning,  five  after  dinner,  and  five  in  the  evening, 
before  going  to  bed;  and  when  he  could  not  sleep  at 
night,  he  meditated  on  those  portions  of  sacred  Scrip- 
ture which  he  had  read  in  the  day. 

Wliile  he  was  resident  at  Cambridge,  a  Jewish 
rabbi  came  to  the  University,  and  was  admitted  into 
several  Colleges  to  teach  the  scholars  the  Hebrew 
language.  Mr.  Gouge  availed  himself  of  this  op- 
portunity of  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  sacred 
original  of  the  Old  Testament;  and  while  most 
others  soon  grew  weary  of  the  study,  he  persevered, 
and  after  some  time,  was  resorted  to  by  such  as 
wished  to  be  instructed  in  this  ancient  tongue;  by 
which  means  he  became  an  accurate  Hebrew  scholar. 

He  was  chosen  lecturer,  both  in  logic  and  philoso- 
phy, in  the  College,  and  acquired  a  high  reputation 
by  the  way  in  which  he  discharged  the  duties  of  that 
important  office. 

Mr.  Gouge,  in  the  first  year  of  his  fellowship,  be- 
gan to  keep  a  common-place  book,  for  divinity,  in 
which  he  made  references  to  what  he  had  read.  Be- 
sides, he  made  use  of  an  interleaved  Bible,  on  the 
blank  pages  of  which  he  inserted  such  brief  exposi- 
tions and  illustrations  of  the  text,  as  struck  his  mind 
with  force. 

In  1607,  Mr.  Gouge  entered  into  the  holy  ministry 
and  received  an  invitation  to  Black  Friars,  London, 
where  he  remained  until  his  dying  day.  He  had 
many  offers  of  higher  preferment,  but  he  declined 
them  all,  and  was  accustomed  to  say,  that  his  greatest 
ambition  was  to  go  from  Black  Friars  to  heaven. 
Here  he  discharged  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  office 
with  exemplary  diligence  and  fidelity;  not  only  by 
preaching,  which  he  performed  in  a  very  able  and 
impressive  manner,  but   by  catechetical  instruction 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


283 


and  by  visiting  and  encouraging  the  weak  of  the 
flock,  and  instructing  the  ignorant.  He  is  said  to 
have  excelled,  in  giving  a  clear  and  distinct  analysis 
of  his  text,  and  in  expounding  different  passages  of 
Scripture.  There  is  reason  to  believe,  tliat  his  min- 
istry was  highly  beneficial  to  many  souls.  After  he 
had  finished  the  public  labours  of  the  Sabbath,  it  was 
his  custom  familiarly  to  repeat  the  substance  of  his 
sermons,  to  a  number  of  persons  who  came  to  his 
house  for  instruction,  which  practice  was  found  to  be 
highly  useful.  He  was  very  careful  in  his  examina- 
tions of  those  who  applied  to  be  received  to  the  Lord's 
Supper,  that  they  possessed  the  requisite  knowledge, 
and  were  actuated  by  correct  motives.  His  own 
house  was  hke  a  little  church,  for  twice  every  day 
was  the  word  read,  and  worship  offered;  and  in  cate- 
chising and  family  government,  he  was  constant  and 
diligent.  The  Sabbath  also  was  sanctified  in  his 
house  with  a  strict  regard  to  the  divine  command- 
ment, and  so  as  to  promote  the  edification  of  all,  ser- 
vants as  well  as  others. 

Mr.  Gouge  was  admitted  to  the  degree  of  bachelor 
in  divinity,  in  the  year  1611,  and  to  that  of  doctor 
in  the  same  faculty,  in  1628;  and  about  this  time 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Society  for  buying 
up  Impropriations,  that  they  might  bestow  them  on 
such  clergymen  as  should  be  distinguished  for  their 
piety,  and  other  ministerial  qualifications.  On  ac- 
count of  the  part  which  he  took  in  this  business, 
he  was  subjected  to  a  prosecution  in  the  star-cham- 
ber. 

In  the  year  1643,  Dr.  Gouge  was  nominated  a 
member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster, 
and  was  held  in  high  estimation  by  that  venerable 
body.  His  attendance  was  regular  and  constant,  and 
he  was  a  very  useful  as  well  as  respectable  member, 
and  often  was  called  to  preside  in  the  absence  of  the 
moderator.  And,  when  a  committee  of  clergymen  was 
selected  to  ordain  candidates  for  the  ministry,  he  was 
selected  as  one  of  that  number.  And  as  these  ordina- 
tions were  accompanied  by  fasting   and  prayer,  he 


284  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

was  observed  to  be  very  attentive  to  these  solemn 
exercises. 

He  was  also  one  of  the  authors  of  "  Annotations  " 
on  the  Bible.  His  share  was  from  the  first  book  of 
Kings  to  Job,  which  are  thought  to  be  very  excellent. 

On  occasion  of  his  being  chosen  President  of  Sion 
College,  as  was  customary,  he  delivered  a  valedictory 
to  his  brethren,  in  Latin,  which  he  delivered  entirely 
from  memory,  without  the  aid  of  notes. 

When  death  approached, he  was  tried  with  grievous 
bodily  pains,  but  when  relieved  for  a  season,  he  would 
still  be  found  labouring,  for  he  had  a  great  desire  be- 
fore his  decease,  to  finish  his  Commentary  on  the 
Epistle  to  the  Hebrews;  and  which,  indeed,  he  was 
permitted  to  complete  within  half  a  chapter,  under  the 
favour  of  Divine  Providence.  When  he  became  so 
weak  that  he  could  not  rise  from  his  bed,  he  said, 
"Now  I  have  not  long  to  live  in  this  world. — The 
time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand. — I  am  going  to  my 
desired  haven. '^  To  his  friends  who  came  to  see  him, 
he  often  said,  "I  am  willing  to  die,  having,  I  bless 
God,  nothing  to  do  but  die.''  He  called  death  his  best 
friend,  next  Jesus  Christ. 

When  the  time  of  his  departure  drew  near,  his 
spirit  became  more  lively  and  cheerful  than  it  had 
been  for  days  before.  His  speeches  were  now  hea- 
venly, as  if  he  were  already  in  heaven.  He  spoke 
much  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  admiration  of  God's  free 
grace.  He  died  very  comfortably  and  piously,  falling 
asleep  in  Jesus,  December  12,  1653,  in  the  seventy- 
ninth  year  of  his  age;  having  been  minister  of  Black 
Friars,  almost  forty-six  years. 

Neal's  testimony  to  the  character  of  Dr.  Gouge  is, 
that  "  He  was  a  modest,  humble,  affable  person,  of 
strict  and  exemplary  piety,  a  universal  scholar,  and  a 
constant  preacher,  as  long  as  he  could  get  up  into  the 
pulpit."  Dr.  Calamy  gives  him  a  similar  character. 
His  name  is  enrolled  among  the  worthies  of  King's 
College,  in  Dr.  Fuller's  History  of  the  University  of 
Cambridge.  Wood  styles  him  "a  pious  and  learned 
preacher."     Granger  testifies,  *'that  he  was  offered 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY,  285 

the  proctorship  of  King's  College,  but  declined  to  ac- 
cept it;"  and  ''that  he  was  laborious,  exemplary,  and 
so  much  beloved,  that  none  ever  thought  or  spoke  ill 
of  him,  excepting  those  who  were  inclined  to  speak 
ill  of  religion  itself." 

His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Mr.  William 
Jenkin,  who  had  been  his  assistant  for  twelve  years, 
and  succeeded  him  in  the  pastoral  charge  of  Black 
Friars. 

Mr.  Gouge,  on  occasion  of  whose  death.  Dr.  Watts 
composed  a  beautiful  elegiac  poem,  was  the  son  of 
Dr.  Gouge.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts  married  his  eldest 
daughter;  these  three,  his  successor,  son,  and  son-in- 
law,  were  all  ejected  by  the  Act  of  Uniformity.  The 
character  of  Dr.  Gouge  was  not  only  exemplary,  for 
diligence  and  fidelity,  but  most  amiable  and  conde- 
scending. He  excelled  as  a  casuist,  and  was  resorted 
to  in  this  respect,  from  the  town  and  country,  both  by 
private  Christians  and  ministers.  He  was  also  emi- 
nent as  a  peace-maker,  and  was  successful  in  com- 
posing many  differences.  He  was  liberal  and  benev- 
olent; he  disdained  to  hoard  up  wealth,  when  there 
were  so  many  ways  in  which  it  could  be  made  avail- 
able to  promote  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  He  was  the 
friend  of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless.  He  main- 
tained some  poor  scholars,  at  the  University,  entirely 
at  his  own  expense.  He  was  temperate  in  all  things; 
a  great  economist  of  time,  generally  rising  all  the 
year  round  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  He  was 
singularly  modest  and  affable,  and  richly  adorned 
with  humility.  He  was  a  true  friend,  and  his  friend- 
ships were  founded  on  religion,  and  were  highly  ben- 
eficial to  many.  He  delighted  much  in  communion 
with  God,  and  was  accustomed  to  look  up  to  Him  as 
the  Author  of  every  gift,  the  Dispenser  of  every  bless- 
ing, and  Orderer  of  every  want. 

The  following  is  a  catalogue  of  Dr.  Gouge's  pub- 
lished writings: 

1.  The  Whole  Armour  of  God. 

2.  Eight  Treatises  on  Domestic  Duties.  1626. 

3.  A  Guide  to  go  to  God. 


286  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

4.  God's  Three  Arrows:  Plague,  Famine,  and 
Sword;  in  Three  Treatises.  1631. 

5.  A  Treatise  on  the  Sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Folio.  1626. 

6.  The  Extent  of  God's  Providence;  from  Matt.  x. 
29—31. 

7.  The  Dignity  of  Chivalry.  A  sermon  before  the 
Artillery  Company  of  London,  1631. 

8.  The  Saint's  Sacrifice.  Com.  on  Psalm  cxvi. 
1632. 

9.  Two  Treatises:  on  the  Sabbath,  and  on  Apos- 
tasy. 

10.  The  Saint's  Support.  A  sermon  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  on  June  29,  1642.     A  Fast. 

11.  Mercies'  Memorial. 

12.  The  Progress  of  Divine  Providence;  before  the 
House  of  Peers,  September  24,  1645.  A  Fast. 

13.  A  Funeral  Sermon  for  Mrs.  Duck. 

14.  The  Right  Way.  A  sermon  from  Ezra  viii. 
21.     Before  the  House  of  Lords. 

15.  Two  Catechisms. 

16.  A  Commentary  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews. 
2  vols,  folio. 

This  is  accounted  a  learned  and  highly  useful  work. 
Dr.  Wilkins  classes  Dr.  Gouge's  Sermons  among 
the  most  excellent  of  the  times. 

17.  Annotations  on  the  Books  of  Kings,  Chronicles, 
Ezra,  Nehemiah,  and  Esther. 

Dr.  Gouge,  at  the  instigation  of  bishop  Neile,  was 
cast  into  prison  for  publishing  Finch's  Book  on  "The 
Calling  of  the  Jews."  He  remained  in  prison  nme 
weeks  and  was  then  released. 

GowER,  Stanley. — A  member  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly,  was  a  Puritan  divine,  of  considerable  emi- 
nence in  the  Church  of  Christ.  He  was  some  time 
settled  in  the  ministry,  in  the  county  of  Hereford,  in 
England.  When  he  removed  to  London,  he  became 
preacher  of  Martin's,  in  Ludgate  street;  and  was  also 
one  of  the  preachers  of  Parliament.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  to  consider  applications  for  se- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  287 

qnestered  livings.  He  was  also  on  the  committee 
appointed  to  examine  and  ordain  candidates  for  the 
ministry.  He  was  living  in  1660,  and  was  then  mi- 
nister at  Dorchester;  and  in  "  Rennet's  Chronicle," 
is  denominated  a  zealous  and  eminent  Presbyterian. 
His  only  published  writings  are: 

1.  The  Life  of  Mr.  Richard  Rothwell. 

2.  A  Sermon  entitled,  '' Things  Now-a-doing,"  or, 
^^The  Church's  Travail  of  the  Child  of  Reformation, 
No\v-a-bearing,''  preached  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, from  Dan.  xii.  10.     With  an  Appendix. 

Greene,  John,  A.  M. — A  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  was  eminently  learn- 
ed and  pious.  He  was  sometime  pastor  of  Pen- 
combe,  in  the  county  of  Hereford,  and  fulfilled  the 
office  of  a  diligent  and  faithful  shepherd:  feeding  his 
flock  with  sound  knowledge,  and  warning  them  of 
the  dangers  which  threatened  them.  He  did  not 
enter  the  Westminster  Assembly  until  1646;  but  is 
marked  by  Neal  as  giving  constant  attendance. 

The  only  Discourse  which  he  is  known  to  have 
left  behind  him,  was  one  entitled  "  Nehemiah's  Tears 
and  Prayers  for  Judah's  Affliction,  and  the  Ruins 
and  Repair  of  Jerusalem."  This  sermon  was  preach- 
ed before  the  House  of  Commons  on  a  Fast  day,  in 
the  Church  of  St.  Margaret,  Westminster. 

Greenhill,  William. — A  member  of  the  West- 
minster Assembly  of  Divines,  was  born  in  Oxford- 
shire, and  was  entered  a  student  of  Magdalen  college, 
in  the  year  1604,  when  only  thirteen  years  of  age. 
In  1612,  he  took  his  second  degree  in  the  arts,  and 
entered  upon  the  holy  ministry. 

In  1643  he  was  called  up  to  the  Assembly;  at 
which  time  he  was  minister  of  Stepney.  Mr.  G.  was 
one  of  the  Dissenting,  or  Independent  brethren.  He 
was  a  zealous  Puritan,  and  greatly  opposed  to  pre- 
lacy, and  to  the  ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land; and  suffered  much  for  his  non-conformity,  as 
long  as  the  Laudean  faction  ruled. 


288  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  in  favour  with  OHver 
Cromwell,  and  was  one  of  the  thirty-eight  com- 
missioners for  the  examination  and  approbation  of 
minisiers,  who  were  commonly  called  Triers.  Mr. 
Greenhill  was  ejected  from  Stepney  by  the  act  of 
uniformity,  in  1662.  He  probably  died  about  the 
year  1677,  as  in  that  year  his  library  was  sold.  Dr. 
Calamy  describes  him  as  ^' a.  worthy  man,  and  much 
valued  for  his  great  learning  and  unwearied  labours." 
Mr.  Howe,  in  his  funeral  sermon  for  Mr.  Mead, 
speaking  of  his  connexion  with  Mr.  Greenhill,  styles 
him,  "  That  eminent  servant  of  God,  Mr.  Greenhill, 
whose  praise  is  still  in  the  churches." 

Mr.  Greenhill's  writings  are: 

1.  The  Axe  at  the  Root.  A  sermon  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  from  Matt.  iii.  10. 

2.  An  Exposition  of  the  Prophet  Ezekiel,  in  five 
volumes,  4to. 

3.  Sermons  of  Christ's  Last  Discovery  of  Himself 

4.  A  Sermon  before  the  Parliament,  from  Ezek. 
xliii. 

5.  A  Sermon  at  the  Morning  Exercise,  from  Ezek. 
xviii.  32. 

6.  The  Sound-hearted  Christian. 

7.  Several  other  Sermons  and  small  Pieces. 

Hall,  Henry. — A  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  who  gave  constant  attend- 
ance on  the  business  of  that  body.  He  was  of  the 
committee  to  examine  applicants  for  the  sequestered 
livings. 

There  is  one  Sermon  under  his  name,  preached 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  entitled  "  Heaven 
Ravished,"  or  "  A  Glorious  Prize  Achieved  by  He- 
roical  Enterprise,"  from  Matt.  xi.  12.  Nothing  else 
is  now  known  respecting  Mr.  Hall. 

Henderson,  Alexander,  was  born  about  the  year 
1583;  but  very  little  is  known  of  his  parentage  or 
place  of  his  birth.  About  the  beginning  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  he  was  sent  to  St.  Andrews,  to  finish 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  289 

his  education,  where  he  was  soon  eminently  distin- 
guished for  his  abilities  and  diligence  in  study.  After 
he  had  completed  his  collegiate  course,  he  was  ap- 
pointed the  teacher  of  a  class  of  philosophy  and  rhet- 
oric in  that  University.  It  is  certain,  that  in  1611,  he 
was  one  of  the  professors  of  that  University,  for  his 
name  is  found  affixed  to  a  letter  of  thanks  to  the 
king,  on  occasion  of  his  having  founded  a  library 
there. 

At  this  time,  the  Presbyterian  church  was  in  a  dis- 
tracted condition,  and  great  efforts  were  made  to  get 
Episcopacy  established;  and  Mr.  Henderson  being 
young  and  of  great  abilities,  was  ambitious  of  prefer- 
ment, and  therefore  v/armly  advocated  the  measures 
of  the  court.  Having  obtained  from  archbishop  Glad- 
stanes,  a  presentation  to  the  parish  of  Leuchars,  he 
obtruded  himself  upon  the  people,  very  much  against 
Iheir  wish;  and  when  settled,  appeared  to  care  very 
little  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  flock. 

Not  long  after  his  settlement  in  this  parish,  the  cele- 
brated Presbyterian  minister,  Robert  Bruce,  preached 
at  a  communion  season  in  his  neighbourhood.  Mr. 
Henderson  went  to  hear  him,  but  took  his  seat  in  a 
dark,  private  corner,  where  he  could  not  be  recog- 
nised. When  Bruce  entered  the  pulpit,  he  gave  out 
with  much  solemnity,  the  text,  "Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  you,  he  that  entereth  not  by  the  door  into  the 
sheepfold,  but  climbeth  up  some  other  way,  the  same 
is  a  thief  and  a  robber.'^  John  x.  1.  Tiiese  words 
were  as  a  piercing  sword  to  Mr.  Henderson's  con- 
science; and  he  who  was  concealing  himself  from  his 
fellow  creatures,  stood  revealed,  as  it  were,  before 
his  righteous  Judge.  What  he  heard  on  this  occasion, 
from  this  eminent  servant  of  God,  was  by  the  effec- 
tual operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  means  of  his 
conversion.  His  change  of  mind  soon  became  ap- 
parent in  his  whole  conversation  and  deportment. 
He  now  became  a  diligent  and  faithful  labourer  in 
the  Lord's  vineyard,  and  was  henceforth  peculiarly 
zealous  in  promoting  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his 
people,  and  endeavoured  to  make  amends  for  his 
19 


290  JBIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

unlawful  manner  of  entering  among  them.  He 
also  now  became  a  decided  Presbyterian;  and  his 
opinion  was  not  formed  without  due  examination; 
for  he  took  pains  to- study  the  controversy,  and  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  presbytery  was  most  conforma- 
ble to  the  Holy  Scriptures;  and  that  Episcopacy  was 
unauthorized  by  the  word  of  God,  and  inconsistent 
with  the  reformed  constitution  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land. 

In  August,  1619,  Mr.  Henderson  and  two  other 
ministers  were  called  before  the  Court  of  High  Com- 
mission, at  St.  Andrews,  charged  with  publishing  a 
book,  entitled  "  Perth  Assembly,"  proving  the  nullity 
of  that  assembly;  but  they  answered  for  themselves 
with  such  wisdom,  that  the  bishops  were  obliged  to 
dismiss  them,  with  no  other  punishment  than  threats. 

During  this  period  of  his  retirement,  he  was  inde- 
fatigable, both  in  his  studies  and  in  the  performance 
of  pastoral  duties.  Mr.  Livingston  speaks  of  him  as 
a  man  '•  whose  memory  was  very  precious  and  re- 
freshing." His  attachment  to  truth  and  rectitude 
was  inflexible;  but  still,  he  met  with  much  annoy- 
ance. The  archbishop  of  St.  Andrews,  with  a  view 
to  deter  others,  gave  orders  to  Mr.  Henderson  and 
two  other  ministers,  to  purchase  each  of  them  two 
copies  of  the  Liturgy,  for  the  use  of  their  parishes, 
within  fifteen  days,  under  pain  of  rebellion.  Mr. 
Henderson  proceeded  to  Edinburgh,  and  presented  a 
petition  to  the  Privy  Council,  stating  his  objections, 
and  requesting  a  suspension  of  the  order;  and  seve- 
ral similar  petitions  being  presented  about  the  same 
time,  a  favourable  answer  was  obtained  from  the 
Council;  and  an  account  of  the  people's  great  aver- 
sion to  conformity  was  transmitted  to  London.  From 
this  time,  he  was  very  conspicuous  and  active  among 
the  opposers  of  prelatical  church  government. 

In  163S,  when  the  National  Covenant  was  agreed 
upon,  Mr.  Henderson  was  called  in  providence  to  act 
a  very  conspicuous  part;  for  this  memorable  docu- 
ment, which,  with  uplifted  hands,  was  sworn  to  by 
the  nobility,  gentry,  burgesses,  and  ministers,  was 


WEST3IINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  291 

composed  by  this  illustrious  reformer.  This  measure 
divided  the  people  into  two  great  parties,  the  Cove- 
nanters and  Non-covenanters.  The  kin^i's  commis- 
sioner, the  Marquis  of  HamiUon,  proposed  a  compro- 
mise, and  agreed  that  the  Liturgy,  &c.,  should  be 
dispensed  with,  if  the  Covenanters  would  rehnquish 
their  National  Covenant.  But  they  were  exceeding- 
ly averse  to  this;  and  the  pen  of  Mr.  Henderson  soon 
furnished  them  with  *' Reasons  why  the  Covenanters 
should  not  on  any  terms  give  up  the  Covenant.'' 

Mr.  Henderson  was  present,  as  a  delegate,  at  the 
famous  Assetnby  of  1638,  which  met  at  Glasgow, 
and  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  same.  This  office 
was  at  that  time  attended  with  peculiar  difficulties, 
on  account  of  the  course  pursued  by  the  king's  high 
commissioner,  and  by  the  bishops,  who  sent  in  their 
declination  of  the  authority  of  the  assembly:  but  he 
did  not  shrink  from  the  arduous  duties  of  this  respon- 
sible station;  and  upon  being  conducted  to  the  chair, 
delivered  a  handsome  and  appropriate  address  to  the 
members.  His  resolution  and  judgment  were  soon 
put  to  the  test;  for  the  king's  commissioner  dissolved 
the  assembly,  for  he  saw  that  they  were  firmly  re- 
solved to  abolish  Episcopacy  in  Scotland.  But  that 
business  which  led  to  the  abrupt  departure  of  the 
commissioner,  was  the  declinature  of  the  bishops. 
The  question  came  up,  whether  the  assembly  had 
authority  to  judge  any  thing  in  regard  to  the  bishops; 
and  when  this  was  decided  in  the  affirmative,  the 
commissioner  declared  that  he  could  not  continue 
any  longer  with  them,  and  delivered  a  speech  to  the 
assembly,  which  the  moderator  answered  in  a  very 
grave  and  well  composed  speech,  addressed  to  the 
commissioner,  in  which  the  distinction  between  civil 
and  ecclesiastical  power  was  clearly  exhibited.  Tlie 
king's  high  commissioner,  however,  as  he  had  threat- 
ened, proceeded  to  dissolve  the  assembly  in  the  name 
of  the  king.  The  court,  however,  continued  its  ses- 
sions; and  upon  the  departure  of  the  commissioner, 
the  moderator  addressed  the  assembly  in  an  excellent 
speech;  for  he  possessed  the  happy  faculty  of  adapt- 


292  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ing  his  language  to  the  occasion.  By  reason  of  his 
courage,  presence  of  mind,  and  address,  the  assembly- 
was  preserved  from  being  thrown  into  a  state  of  con- 
fusion and  trepidation,  in  the  trying  circumstances  in 
which  they  were  placed.  Having  dehvered  his  speech 
to  the  assembly,  he  invited  any  others,  ministers  or 
elders,  who  felt  inclined  to  speak,  to  address  the  body; 
upon  which,  Messrs.  David  Dickson,  Henry  Roliack, 
Andrew  Cant,  and  Andrew  Ramsay,  of  the  clergy, 
delivered  pathetic  and  encouraging  speeches;  and 
were  followed  by  the  elders,  Landon  of  the  nobihty, 
Keir  of  the  gentry,  and  Robert  Cunningham  of  the 
burgesses.  These  discourses  greatly  animated  and 
encouraged  the  assembly,  and  others  who  were  pre- 
sent. The  moderator  now  put  the  question,  whether 
they  continued  to  protest  against  the  departure  of  the 
commissioner,  and  whether  they  were  determined  to 
go  on  with  their  business  until  it  was  finished;  upon 
which,  all  the  members,  with  the  exception  of  about 
five,  lifted  up  their  hands  in  the  affirmative.  Having 
determined  to  continue  a  constituted  body,  they  re- 
turned to  the  question  which  had  occasioned  the  rup- 
ture; and  the  moderator  again  proposed  the  question, 
whether  they  had  authority  to  sit  in  judgment  on  the 
archbishops  and  bishops  of  the  kingdom;  and  here 
again  all  voted  in  the  affirmative,  except  four.  A 
proclamation  was  now  published  against  the  assem- 
bly, in  solemn  form,  at  the  Market-cross  of  Glasgow. 
When  the  assembly  met,  next  day,  Mr,  Henderson 
again  addressed  them,  and  recommended  gravity, 
quietness,  and  order;  and  added,  "Not  that  he  as- 
sumed any  thing  to  himself,  but  he  was  bold  to  direct 
them,  in  that  wherein  he  liad  the  consent  of  their 
own  minds."  When  the  assembly  were  about  to 
decide  that  sentence  should  be  pronounced  against 
some  ministers  who  had  been  condemned  by  their 
respective  presbyteries,  he  made  this  just  remark, 
'^  that  these  processes  should  be  heard  with  a  feeling 
sense  of  compassion  toward  the  guilty  persons,  but 
with  joy  that  the  Lord  was  putting  forth  his  hand  to 
purge  his  house.''     And  when  the  assembly  unani- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


293 


mously  condemned  the  six  preceding  assemblies,  as 
corrupt,  the  moderator  observed,  "  that  he  hoped  they 
would  be  looked  upon  as  beacons,  that  we  strike  not 
against  such  rocks." 

The  process  against  the  eight  bishops  having  been 
brought  to  a  close,  by  a  determination  of  the  assem- 
bly that  they  should  all  be  excommunicated,  it  de- 
volved on  the  moderator  to  pronounce  the  sentence; 
but  from  this  he  struggled  hard  to  be  excused,  but 
ineffectually,  for  the  duty  was  put  upon  him.  At  the 
time  appointed,  he  preached  a  sermon  from  Psalm 
ex.  1.  He  then  caused  to  be  read  an  abstract  of  the 
evidence  against  the  bishops,  and  then  made  some 
observations,  showing  that  they  deserved  the  sen- 
tence. He  then  showed  their  warrant  for  this  pro- 
ceeding, and  after  a  fervent  and  solemn  prayer  to 
God,  he  pronounced  the  sentence  of  excommunica- 
tion in  the  following  words,  viz:  "Since  the  eight 
persons  before  mentioned  have  declared  themselves 
strangers  to  the  communion  of  saints,  to  be  without 
hope  of  life  eternal,  and  to  be  slaves  of  sin;  therefore, 
we  the  people  of  God,  assembled  together  for  this 
cause,  and  I,  as  their  mouth,  in  the  name  of  the  Eter- 
nal God,  and  of  his  Son,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
according  to  the  directions  of  this  assembly,  dp  ex- 
communicate the  said  eight  persons  from  the  partici- 
pation of  the  sacraments,  from  the  communion  of  the 
visible  church,  and  from  the  prayers  of  the  church; 
and  so  long  as  they  continue  obstinate,  discharge  you 
all,  as  you  would  not  be  partakers  of  their  vengeance 
from  keeping  any  religious  fellowship  with  them,  and 
thus  give  them  over  into  the  hands  of  the  devil,  as- 
suring you,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that 
except  their  repentance  be  evident,  the  fearful  wrath 
and  vengeance  of  the  God  of  Heaven  shall  overtake 
them,  even  in  this  life,  and  after  this  world,  everlast- 
ing vengeance."  At  the  same  time,  the  moderator 
pronounced  the  sentence  of  deposition  upon  several 
ministers;  and  the  whole  was  done  in  a  very  solemn 
and  awful  manner. 

A  warm  contest  now  took  place  between  the  com- 


294 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


missioners  of  Edinburgh  and  of  St.  Andrews,  before 
the  assembly,  each  urgnig  that  Mr.  Henderson  should 
be  translated  to  their  city.  He  was  exceedingly 
averse  to  leaving  his  retired  parish;  but  if  he  mast 
remove,  he  greatly  preferred  St.  Andrews  to  a  station 
so  conspicuous  as  that  of  Edinburgh;  but  after  full 
argument  on  all  sides,  the  assembly  resolved  that  he 
sliould  be  translated  to  Edinburgh.  At  the  close  of 
this  very  important  meeting,  the  moderator  addressed 
an  affectionate  and  solemn  discourse  to  the  members. 
This  speech  is  a  very  remarkable  one;  and  with  the 
others  addressed  to  this  body,  serves  to  give  a  just 
idea  of  the  spirit  of  the  man.  When  he  had  finished 
his  speech,  he  invited  Mr.  David  Dickson  and  Mr. 
Andrew  Ramsay  to  supply  what  he  had  omitted. 
These  two  brethren  followed  up  what  he  had  said, 
with  speeches  in  the  same  strain.  The  Duke  of  Ar- 
gyle  had  come  late  to  this  meeting,  but  had  given 
his  hearty  countenance  to  all  the  proceedings  of  the 
assembly.  The  moderator,  therefore,  addressed  him 
in  a  respectful  manner,  and  the  duke  answered  in  a 
short  extempore  discourse.  At  this  meeting,  Episco- 
pacy, the  high-commission  court,  the  canons  and  lit- 
urgy, were  abolished,  and  declared  unlawful;  and 
the  whole  fabric  which  James  and  his  son  Charles 
had  been  so  long  erecting,  fell  at  once  to  the  ground; 
on  which  account,  the  moderator  said  with  emphasis, 
"We  have  now  cast  down  the  walls  of  Jericho,  let 
him  who  rebuildeth  them  beware  of  the  curse  of  Hiel 
the  Bethelite.'' 

As  might  be  expected,  the  indignation  of  Charles  I. 
and  his  primate  Laud,  against  the  doings  of  this 
assembly,  was  very  strong;  and  as  Henderson  was 
the  moderator,  and  the  most  conspicuous  person  in 
the  body,  their  displeasure  was  particularly  directed 
against  him.  But  he  did  not  remain  inactive,  but 
published  several  important  papers,  in  justification  of 
the  acts  of  the  assembly;  and  when  war  seemed  in- 
evitable, he  published  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Instruc- 
tions for  Defensive  Arms,^^  to  show  the  justice  and 
necessity  of  the  defensive  war  into  which  they  were 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  295 

forced.  In  Jane,  1639,  when  the  king  appeared  m- 
cHued  to  hsten  to  o\^ertures  of  peace,  Mr.  Henderson 
was  selected  as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  go  to  the 
Enghsh  camp;  and  during  tlie  whole  negotiation,  his 
eminent  abilities  were  conspicuous;  and  the  king 
himself  is  said  to  have  been  much  pleased  with  his 
conversation.  The  propriety  of  sending  a  minister  of 
the  gospel  to  such  a  treaty,  is  questioned  by  bishop 
Burnet;  but  when  it  is  considered  that  the  dispute 
arose  o-ut  of  religion,  and  that  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  the  General  Assembly  were  the  chief  matters  to  be 
settled,  no  man  could  have  been  found  better  qualified 
to  explain  every  thing  connected  with  the  subject; 
and  this  is  assigned  expressly  as  the  reason  of  his 
appointment  by  the  committee  of  Parliament. 

Mr.  Henderson  opened  the  assembly  of  1639,  with 
a  sermon  from  Acts  v.  33,  and  addressed  the  members 
of  the  body  in  his  usual  solemn  and  impressive  man- 
ner. The  king's  high  commissioner  requested,  that 
in  consideration  of  Mr.  Henderson's  "rare  abilities," 
he  should  be  continued  the  moderator  of  this  assem- 
bly also;  but  the  jealousy  of  prelatical  domination 
led  them  to  reject  this  request;  and  the  Rev.  David 
Dickson,  minister  of  Irvine,  was  chosen  moderator  by 
a  great  majority.  As  Episcopacy  was  condemned 
again,  by  this  assembly,  the  lord  commissioner  re- 
quested that  the  reasons  of  this  condemnation  should 
be  assigned.  Mr.  Henderson,  Mr.  Ramsay,  and  the 
moderator  undertook  to  prove  that  it  was  a  mere  hu- 
man institution,  and  destructive  of  discipline,  &c. 

The  council  of  Edinburgh  having  resolved  that  a 
rector  of  the  University  should  be  annually  chosen  to 
visit  the  institution,  the  chance  fell  on  Mr.  Henderson 
for  the  current  year. 

When  tiie  war  with  Scotland  was  renewed  by  the 
English,  Mr.  Henderson  accompanied  the  Covenant- 
ers, who  marched  into  England;  and  when  another 
treaty  was  set  on  foot,  to  reconcile  the  parties,  he 
was  again  one  of  the  commissioners,  and  is  said  to 
have  drawn  up  the  paper  which  contained  the 
grounds  and  reasons  of  their  demands,  which  was 


296 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


transmitted  to  the  British  Parliament,  and  produced 
a  powerful  etiect.  It  is  still  extant  in  MS.  The  con- 
ditions insisted  on,  in  this  paper,  were  all  agreed  to 
by  the  English,  and  a  treaty  was  accordingly  ratified 
on  these  terms. 

While  he,  and  the  other  Scottish  ministers  who 
accompanied  the  army,  remained  in  London,  they 
were  not  idle,  but  wrote  and  published  several  pam- 
phlets, relating  to  the  existing  disputes  between  the 
English  and  Scotch. 

Mr.  Henderson,  when  in  London,  souglit  and  ob- 
tained an  audience  of  the  king.  His  object  was  to 
obtain  some  assistance  for  the  Scottish  universities, 
from  funds  formerly  appropriated  to  the  support  of 
the  bishops.  He  was  well  received,  and  had  encou- 
ragement given  him  to  hope  that  his  request  would 
be  granted. 

His  extraordinary  popularity  in  Scotland  will  be 
manifest  from  a  single  fact.  This  year,  1641,  the 
General  Assembly  met  at  St.  Andrews;  the  Parlia- 
ment, who  were  now  in  session,  sent  Lord  Carstairs 
to  request  them  to  adjourn  to  Edinburgh,  before  they 
chose  a  moderator,  in  order  that  Mr.  Henderson,  who 
was  not  yet  returned  from  England,  might  be  put 
into  that  office;  but  as  Mr.  Henderson  had  not  ar- 
rived when  they  opened  their  sessions  at  Edinburgh, 
they  proceeded  to  choose  a  moderator,  to  serve  until 
he  should  arrive.  When  he  came,  Mr.  Fairful,  who 
was  in  the  chair,  offered  to  resign  it  to  Mr.  Hender- 
son; but  Mr.  Calderwood,  who  was  not  a  member  of 
the  assembly,  but  had  been  invited  to  sit  with  them, 
opposed  it,  as  being  altogether  out  of  order;  in  which 
Mr.  Henderson  himself  coincided  with  him;  but  when 
the  vote  was  taken  in  the  assembly,  it  was  unanimous 
for  Mr.  Henderson's  commission  being  received,  and 
he  was  immediately  chosen  moderator.  He  begged 
to  be  excused  from  this  onerous  office,  but  the  assem- 
bly insisted  on  his  taking  the  chair.  In  this  assembly, 
Mr.  Henderson  gave  pleasing  information  of  tlie  pro- 
gress of  correct  opinions  in  England,  on  the  subject 
of  church  government,  and  that  there  was  a  reasona- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


297 


ble  prospect  that  soon  an  nniformity  in  religion  would 
take  place  in  the  two  kingdoms.  To  promote  an 
object  so  desirable,  he  moved  for  a  committee  to 
draw  np  a  "Confession  of  Faith,  a  Catechism,  and 
Directory  for  Worship,  and  a. Platform  of  Govern- 
ment," in  which  the  two  nations  miglit  probably 
agree.  This  proposal  was  cordially  approved  by  the 
assembly,  and  they  imposed  the  chief  burden  of  this 
important  work  upon  the  mover,  which  he  wished  to 
decline:  but  they  held  him  to  it,  but  permitted  him  to 
call  to  his  aid  any  of  his  brethren  whom  he  might 
choose,  and  if  necessary,  to  intermit  preaching  while 
the  work  was  in  hand. 

He  now  petitioned  the  assembly  to  be  removed 
from  Edinburgh,  where  he  was  always  unhealthy, 
and  especially,  as  his  voice  was  not  strong  enough  to 
fill  any  church  in  the  city.  To  this,  the  city  of  Edin- 
burgh was  exceedingly  averse;  and  offered  to  render 
his  situation  in  all  respects  comfortable;  but  he  in- 
sisted on  a  release,  and  was  accordingly  translated  to 
St.  Andrews. 

When  the  king  this  year  visited  Scotland,  Mr. 
Henderson  attended  him  as  his  chaplain;  and  as  his 
majesty  consented,  while  in  Scotland,  to  conform  to 
the  Scottish  service,  he  selected  preachers  on  w^iom 
he  might  attend.  And  he  took  this  opportunity  of 
exerting  his  influence  with  the  king  in  favour  of  the 
universities;  which  was  done  with  effect;  and  par- 
ticularly, he  obtained  with  some  difficulty,  ihat  the 
revenues  of  the  bishopric  and  priory  of  Edinburgh, 
should  go  to  the  support  of  the  University  of  that 
city. 

During  the  year  1642,  Mr.  Henderson  was  much 
engaged  in  correspondence,  with  a  view  to  a  unifor- 
mity of  religion  in  the  two  kingdoms.  And  the  Eng- 
lish Parliament  having  resolved  to  abolish  Episcopacy, 
requested  that  some  ministers  should  be  sent  from  the 
church  of  Scotland,  to  assist  the  synod  which  they 
were  about  to  convene.  Mr.  Henderson,  very  much 
against  his  will,  was  named  one  of  the  commissioners. 
He  was  exceedingly  desirous  that  the  parties  should 


298 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


be  reconciled,  and  that  matters  should  not  be  pushed 
on  to  extremities.  And  with  a  view  to  conciliation, 
he  visited  the  king,  at  Oxford,  and  presented  a  peti- 
tion in  the  name  of  the  Scottish  commissioners:  but 
was  not  very  graciously  received.  An  attempt  was 
made  to  involve  him  in  a  public  controversy  on 
church  government;  but  he  evaded  it,  as  thinking 
that  it  would  be  unbecoming  for  him,  as  national 
commissioner,  to  engage  in  controversy  with  private 
men. 

The  Scotch  were  much  dissatisfied  with  the  treat- 
ment which  their  commissioners  received  from  the 
king;  and  they  now  entered  into  a  close  alliance  with 
the  Parliament. 

The  General  Assembly  convened  at  Edinburgh  in 
August;  and  Mr.  Henderson  was  a  third  time  chosen 
moderator.  To  this  assembly,  the  commissioners 
from  the  English  Parliament  presented  themselves, 
and  exhibited  their  commission  from  both  Houses, 
and  also  the  views  with  which  they  they  had  come 
mto  Scotland.  And  to  unite  the  two  nations  into  a 
close  alliance,  a  covenant  was  proposed,  and  was  at 
length  agreed  upon.  This  also  was  drawn  up  by 
Mr.  Henderson.  The  English  commissioners  wish- 
ed only  for  a  civil  league,  but  ultimately  agreed  to 
the  covenant  which  had  been  prepared.  When  this 
was  read  in  the  assembly,  it  was  received  with  tears 
of  joy,  and  unanimously  adopted.  This  is  the  pa- 
per which  is  known  by  the  name  of  "  The  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant.''  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  it  passed  the  '^Convention  of  Estates," 
and  was  immediately  transmitted  to  the  English  Par- 
liament, for  their  approbation;  and  Mr.  Henderson, 
already  appointed  a  commissioner  to  the  Westminster 
Assembly,  was  now  directed  to  set  out  immediately 
for  London,  to  obtain  from  the  Parliament  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant.  Upon  his 
arrival,  with  the  other  commissioners,  in  London, 
the  matter  was  brought  before  Parliament,  and  the 
Covenant  was  approved  by  both  Houses,  and  then 
transmitted  to  the  Assembly  at  Westminster,  where  it 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


299 


met  also  with  the  approbation  of  the  majority;  and  a 
day  was  agreed  on,  in  which  the  Assembly  and 
House  of  Commons  should  meet,  and  after  swearing 
to  the  Covenant,  should  individually  subscribe  it. 
As  an  introduction  to  the  solemnities  of  this  day,  Mr. 
Henderson  delivered  an  appropriate  address,  in  which 
he  warmly  commended  the  duty  in  which  they  were 
about  to  engage,  as  pleasing  to  God,  and  one  which 
he  had  often  crowned  with  an  extraordinary  blessing. 

In  the  Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines,  Mr.  Hen- 
derson acted  a  very  conspicuous  part;  and  perhaps 
no  one  in  that  body  had  a  greater  influence  on  its 
acts  and  decisions.  When  the  members  grew  warm 
in  debate,  he  endeavoured  to  reconcile  them,  and  had 
a  happy  art  of  removing  difficulties  which  hindered 
the  agreement  of  brethren. 

In  the  year  1645,  Mr.  Henderson  was  appointed  to 
assist  the  commissioners  of  the  two  Houses  in  nego- 
tiating a  treaty  with  the  king  at  Uxbridge.  They 
were  instructed  to  demand  that  Episcopacy  should  be 
abolished;  to  which  the  king's  commissioners  strongly 
objected.  Mr.  Henderson  introduced  the  discussions 
with  an  elaborate  speech,  in  which  he  contented  him- 
self with  proving,  not  that  Episcopacy  was  unlawful, 
but  that  it  was  not  absolutely  necessary;  as  certainly 
Christianity  could  subsist  without  it.  Even  Lord 
Clarendon  admits  that  his  speech  was  not  destitute 
of  eloquence.  He  dwelt  much  on  the  fact,  that  all 
the  reformed  churches  in  the  world,  except  that  of 
England,  had  rejected  Episcopacy;  and  that,  in  this 
country,  the  hierarchy  had  ever  been  a  most  inconve- 
nient thing;  that  the  bishops  had  continually  a  ten- 
dency to  approximate  to  popery;  many  of  the  cere- 
monies of  which  they  had  retained;  and  that,  in  civil 
matters,  they  had  often  involved  the  nation  in  dif- 
ficulties, and  sometimes  enkindled  a  flame  which 
blazed  through  the  three  kingdoms. 

The  king's  commissioner  for  religion.  Dr.  Stewart, 
opposed  Mrs.  Henderson's  speech  with  much  zeal. 
He  endeavoured  to  prove  the  apostolical  authority  of 
Episcopacy,  and  contended,  that  without  bishops,  the 


300 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


sacerdotal  office  conld  not  be  transmitted,  and  that 
without  this  office,  the  sacraments  could  not  be  ad- 
ministered with  any  effect. 

This  negotiation  having  been  broken  off,  Mr.  Hen- 
derson returned  to  his  duty  in  the  assembly.  In  the 
close  of  the  year  1645,  it  was  judged  expedient  to 
send  him  and  some  others  to  Scotland;  but  the  seve- 
rity of  the  weather,  ill  health,  and  important  business 
in  London,  prevented  him  from  taking  this  journey. 

In  the  spring  of  1646,  the  king's  affairs  appeared 
to  be  completely  ruined;  he  therefore  threw  himself 
into  the  Scottish  army,  who  conveyed  him  to  New- 
castle. To  this  place,  he  sent  for  Mr.  Henderson, 
who  was  in  fact  one  of  his  chaplains;  and  he,  with 
the  permission  of  Parliament,  went  thither.  He  was 
instructed,  before  he  left  London,  that  the  only  likely 
method  of  removing  difficulties  and  reconciling  par- 
ties, would  be  for  the  king  to  consent  to  take  the 
Solemn  League  and  Covenant;  but  Mr.  Henderson 
soon  found  that  the  king  would  never  consent  to  this. 
The  king,  however,  received  him  kindly,  and  con- 
versed with  him  freely,  and  Mr.  Henderson  was  not 
backward  in  giving  his  advice  candidly  to  this  in- 
fatuated monarch. 

But,  during  these  conferences,  Mr.  Henderson's 
health  became  much  impaired ;  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he  perceived  that  his  disease  was  mortal;  and 
he  resolved,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  return  to  Scot- 
land; but  before  he  left  Newcastle,  he  had  a  final 
audience  of  the  king;  and  after  putting  him  solemnly 
in  mind  of  the  difficulties  by  which  he  was  environed, 
he  took  his  last  farewell,  and  sailed  for  Edinburgh, 
where  he  arrived  August  11,  1646,  very  sick,  and 
much  exhausted.  But  his  mind  was  calm,  and  his 
peace  undisturbed.  He  was  able  to  speak  but  little, 
in  his  last  moments;  but  all  his  brethren  who  visited 
him,  were  well  satisfied  with  the  firmness  of  his  faith, 
even  to  the  last.  He  rested  from  his  labours  August 
19,  164  6,  just  eight  days  after  his  return  (o  Scotland. 
Mr.  Livingston,  who  was  present,  testifies,  "that  he 
died  in  great  peace  and  comfort."     And  his  friend, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  301 

Mr.  Baillie,  "That  he  died  as  he  lived,  in  great 
modesty,  piety,  and  faith."  He  was  buried  in  the 
church  of  Gray-friars;  and  as  he  had  no  family  of 
his  own,  his  nephew,  Mr.  George  Henderson,  Iiad  a 
monument  erected  over  him,  with  a  suitable  inscrip- 
tion. As  no  man  whom  Scotland  ever  produced  was 
more  universally  esteemed,  so  his  death  was  greatly 
lamented. 

His  character,  as  drawn  by  a  minister  of  the  church 
of  England,  Mr.  Grainger,  is  the  following:  "Mr. 
Henderson,  the  chief  of  the  Scottish  clergy,  in  this 
reign,  v/as  learned,  eloquent,  polite,  and  perfectly 
versed  in  the  knowledge  of  mankind.  He  was  at 
the  helm  of  affairs  in  the  General  Assemblies  of  Scot- 
land; and  was  sent  into  England  in  the  double  ca- 
pacity of  a  divine  and  a  plenipotentiary.  He  knew 
how  to  rouse  the  people  to  war,  and  to  negotiate  a 
peace.  Whenever  he  preached,  it  was  to  a  crowded 
audience,  and  as  he  pleaded,  or  argued,  he  was  re- 
garded with  mute  attention."  And  a  late  writer,  in 
the  "Christian  Instructer,"  says:  "Mr.  Henderson 
had  talents  and  acquirements  which  fitted  him  for 
rising  to  eminence:  that  eminence  he  actually  attain- 
ed, and  preserved,  and  nothing  but  shameful  igno- 
rance, or  ruthless  bigotry,  will  deny  him  the  praise  of 
having  been  both  a  great  and  good  man." 

Mr.  Henderson  was  too  much  occupied,  all  his  life, 
with  great  affairs  of  church  and  state,  to  have  it  in  his 
power  to  write  much.  In  powerful,  persuasive  elo- 
quence, he  had  no  superior  in  his  day;  and  the  pro- 
ductions of  his  pen  are  characterized  by  accuracy, 
simplicity,  and  appropriate  illustrations,  giving  un- 
doubted evidence  of  a  clear  and  vigorous  mind.  He 
excelled  in  drafting  public  documents,  as  is  evident 
from  facts  already  stated. 

This  eminent  man  furnishes  a  remarkable  example 
of  the  fact,  that  men  of  a  retiring  disposition  and 
unambitious  of  conspicuous  and  high  stations,  are 
frequently  brought  forward  into  public  life  by  the 
dispensations  of  Providence,  and  by  the  reputation 
which  they  acquire  by  their  modesty  of  disposition. 


302  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

The  reflections  of  Henderson  himself  on  this  subject, 
as  it  relates  to  himself,  are  worthy  of  being  here  in- 
serted. "  When,"  says  he,  "  from  my  sense  of  myself, 
and  my  own  thoughts  and  ways,  I  begin  to  remem- 
ber how  men  who  love  to  live  obscurely  and  in  the 
shadow,  are  brought  forth  to  light,  to  the  view  and 
talking  of  the  world;  how  men  that  love  quietness, 
are  to  stir,  and  have  a  hand  in  public  business;  how 
men  that  love  soliloquies  and  contemplations,  are 
brought  upon  debates  and  controversies;  and  gene- 
rally, how  men  are  brought  to  act  the  things  which 
they  never  determined,  nor  so  much  as  dreamed  of 
before:  the  words  of  the  prophet  Jeremiah  came  to 
my  remembrance:  *  0  Lord,  I  know  that  the  way  of 
man  is  not  in  himself;  it  is  not  in  man  that  walketh, 
to  direct  his  steps.'  Let  no  man  think  himself  master 
of  his  own  actions  or  ways.  '  When  thou  wast  young, 
thou  girdedst  thyself,  and  walked  whither  thou  would- 
est;  but  when  thou  shalt  be  old,  thou  shalt  stretch 
forth  thy  hands,  and  another  shall  gird  thee  and  carry 
thee  whither  thou  wouldst  not.'" 
His  other  printed  productions  are, 

1.  A  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  from 
Ezek.  vii.  2;  preached  on  a  solemn  fast,  December 
27,  1645. 

2.  A  Sermon  before  Lords  and  Commons,  in  St. 
Margaret's  Church,  a  thanksgiving,  July  10,  1644. 

3.  A  Fast  Sermon,  before  the  House  of  Lords, 
May  28,  1645. 

4.  His  Speech  at  the  taking  of  the  Covenant. 

Hardwick,  Humphrey. — A  member  of  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines,  who  is  marked  in  Neal's  account, 
as  constant  in  his  attendance.  He  suffered  much  for 
non-conformity,  having  been  for  a  while  silenced; 
and  having  been  plundered  of  his  library,  as  he  in- 
forms us,  in  the  dedication  of  a  sermon  preached  be- 
fore the  House  of  Commons,  from  Psalm  cxxvi.  5,  6. 
This  sermon  is  entitled  "  Zioii's  Deliverance  and 
Reformation,  together  with  the  activity  her  friends 
should  manifest,  during  the  time  that  his  cause  is  in 
agitation/' 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  303 

Harris,  Robert,  D.  D. — A  triember  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  was  born  in  Glouces- 
tershire, in  England,  in  the  year  157S,  and  was  en- 
tered a  student  in  Magdalen  college,  in  1595.  Here 
he  became  an  excellent  scholar,  and  a  famous  dis- 
putant. His  tutor,  Mr.  Gough,  proposed  to  him  with 
others,  the  spending  some  time  daily,  in  reading  the 
Bible,  in  prayer,  and  the  repetition  of  sermons.  To 
this  he  was  at  first  much  averse;  but  he  sought  di- 
rection of  the  Father  of  lights,  and  was  soon  deeply 
impressed  with  a  sense  of  divine  things;  so  that  he 
humbled  himself  before  God,  and  procured  a  Bible, 
and  began  to  study  it  with  unceasing  diligence;  and 
in  the  progress  of  these  pious  exercises,  he  gave  good 
evidence  that  he  had  experienced  a  saving  change. 
After  taking  his  first  degree  in  the  University,  he  en- 
tered the  holy  rnniistry,  and  was  much  attached  to 
the  principles  of  those  called  Puritans.  He  went  to 
preach  in  a  church,  in  his  native  county,  but  when 
he  came  to  the  place,  he  found  no  Bible  from  which 
he  could  take  his  text,  and  none  could  be  found  in 
the  neighbourhood. 

But  not  wishing,  as  yet,  to  take  the  charge  of  a 
parish,  he  went  back  to  the  University,  there  to  pur- 
sue his  studies;  but  a  dreadful  plague  having  broken 
out  in  that  seat  of  learning,  he  found  a  refuge  in  the 
house  of  a  certain  Mr.  Doyly,  of  a  respectable  and 
ancient  family.  Mrs.  Doyly  was  eminently  pious; 
and  he  found  here  a  worthy  minister,  Mr.  Prier, 
whose  health  was  much  impaired,  and  for  whom  he 
sometimes  officiated  with  great  acceptance,  among 
the  people  of  the  vicinity;  so  that  they  intreated  him 
to  remain  for  some  time,  that  they  might  enjoy  the 
benefit  of  his  ministry. 

About  this  time,  the  venerable  Mr.  Dod,  being 
silenced  for  non-conformity,  was  ejected  from  the 
parish  of  Hanwell,  in  Oxfordshire,  by  Dr.  Bridges, 
bishop  of  Oxford;  upon  which,  Sir  Anthony  Cope 
invited  Mr.  Harris  to  become  his  successor;  but  the 
people  were  so  attached  to  Mr.  Dod,  that  they  would 
only  consent  to  receive  Mr.  Harris  until  it  could  be 


304  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

seen,  whether  there  was  any  hope  of  their  recovering 
their  beloved  pastor.  The  parish,  on  this  account, 
remaining  vacant  for  some  months,  Archbishop  Ban- 
croft presented  the  place  to  one  of  his  chaplains;  but 
Sir  Anthony  Cope,  then  in  Parliament,  immediately 
went  to  him,  and  presented  Mr.  Harris;  and  with 
much  difficulty,  obtained  from  the  Archbishop  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  his  right,  and  the  admittance  of 
Mr.  Harris;  but  having  taken  offence  at  something 
which  Sir  Anthony  Cope  said,  in  Parliament,  about 
insufficient  ministers,  he  determined  to  take  this  oc- 
casion to  retaliate,  and  gave  orders  that  Mr.  Harris 
should  be  strictly  examined.  The  chaplain  who  un- 
dertook to  examine  him,  returned  a  report  that  he 
was,  "moderately  learned,"  which  did  not  satisfy 
the  Archbishop;  wherefore,  he  turned  him  over  to 
bishop  Barlow,  who  was  a  scholar  and  a  wit,  and 
delighted  in  such  exercises.  This  prelate,  after  a 
thorough  examination,  especially  in  Greek,  in  which 
he  excelled,  delivered  to  his  grace,  a  most  favourable 
testimony  of  Mr.  Harris.  He  greatly  dreaded,  how- 
ever, to  become  the  successor  of  a  man  so  eminent  as 
Mr.  Dod.  But  he  found  his  situation  uncommonly 
pleasant,  especially  as  it  related  to  friends  in  the  min- 
istry, for  about  the  same  time,  Mr.  Seudder  had  set- 
tled at  Drayton,  and  Mr.  Whately  at  Banbury.  Be- 
tween these  three  young  clergymen  there  was  formed 
a  great  intimacy  and  friendship,  which  they  increased 
by  the  bonds  of  affinity,  for  Mr.  Harris  married  Mr. 
Whately's  sister,  and  Mr.  Seudder  his  wife's  sister. 
They  were  accustomed  to  meet  together,  once  a 
week,  to  analyze  a  chapter  of  the  Bible.  This  cus- 
tom was  found  very  useful  in  promoting  an  accurate 
knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  and  also  cementing  the 
bonds  of  brotherly  love.  This  practice  they  con- 
tinued with  mutual  edification,  as  long  as  circum- 
stances permitted.  But  although  his  circumstances 
were  so  pleasant,  in  many  respects,  he  was  not  left 
without  his  share  of  affliction.  His  wife  was  long 
confined  with  a  distressing  illness;  but  all  worked 
for  his  good.     His  ministry  became  more  and  more 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  305 

acceptable,  and  useful;  so  that  he  had  many  seals  to 
his  ministry;  and  so  remarkably  was  he  blessed  in 
his  labours,  that,  for  some  time,  there  was  not  one 
prayerless  family  in  Hanwell.  He  was  also  blessed 
in  his  basket  and  store;  for  though  he  had  a  large 
family,  and  a  moderate  salary,  and  loved  hospitality; 
yet  his  circumstances  continued  to  improve;  so  that 
he  thought  that  there  was  a  secret  blessing  on  house- 
keeping. In  this  useful  and  delightful  station,  he  con- 
tinued for  the  space  of  forty  years;  until  the  com- 
mencement of  the  civil  wars,  which  disturbed  the 
peace  of  the  whole  kingdom.  The  bloody  battle  of 
Edge-hill  was  fought  October  28,  1642,  in  the  very 
vicinity  of  Hanwell.  But  although  it  was  so  near, 
and  occurred  during  the  time  of  public  worship,  they 
heard  nothing  of  it  at  Hanwell,  the  wind  being  in  an 
opposite  direction,  until  after  the  public  service  was 
over,  when  the  sad  reality  was  made  known  by 
wounded  soldiers  coming  into  the  place.  Mr.  Har- 
ris was  vexed  and  oppressed  by  the  king's  soldiers, 
who  were  quartered  on  him,  and  reproached  him  as 
a  round-head  and  malignant;  but  he  went  on  as 
usual,  in  the  laborious  exercise  of  his  ministry.  As 
some  of  the  officers,  who  had  taken  up  their  quarters 
at  his  house,  were  exceedingly  addicted  to  profane 
swearing,  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  preach  a  sermon 
against  this  odious  custom,  which,  however,  gave 
great  offence;  so  that  one  of  them  declared,  that  if 
he  dared  to  preach  another  such  sermon,  he  would 
shoot  him  in  the  pulpit.  Mr.  Harris,  nothing  intimi- 
dated, preached  another  sermon,  the  next  Lord's  day, 
against  the  same  vice,  and  while  delivering  it,  he  ob- 
served a  man  preparing  his  firelock,  but  he  went  on 
and  finished  his  discourse,  without  further  interrup- 
tion. 

At  length,  however,  his  tenements  and  all  his  pro- 
perty were  destroyed;  and  some  of  the  people  of  his 
charge  also  joining  with  his  enemies,  he  thought  it 
to  be  necessary  to  retreat  from  Hanwell;  and  he  re- 
moved to  London,  where  he  was  chosen  one  of  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster;    and  during 

20 


306  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

his  attendance,  was  employed  to  preach  regularly  at 
St.  Botalph's  church,  Bishopsgate.  It  was  remarked 
of  him,  as  a  member  of  this  Assembly,  that  he  heard 
all,  and  said  little.  In  1 646,  he  was  one  of  the  seven 
preachers  sent  to  Oxford,  to  reform  the  University; 
and  the  year  following,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
visiters  of  that  University. 

Mr.  Harris  now  took  the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divi- 
nity, and  was  made  master  of  Trinily  college,  which 
office  he  retained  ten  years;  governing  the  college 
with  admirable  prudence,  so  that  he  concihated  the 
affections  of  both  fellows  and  students,  who  reve- 
renced him  as  a  father.  While  here,  he  preached  at 
his  parsonage  once  a  week,  in  the  city  of  Oxford, 
and  regularly  in  his  turn,  in  the  University,  both  in 
Latin  and  English. 

The  only  charge  which  was  ever  brought  against 
Dr.  Harris,  was,  that  he  held  pluralities,  and  received 
the  income  of  parishes  which  he  could  not  in  person 
serve.  There  seems,  from  his  own  confession,  to 
have  been  some  appearance  of  ground  for  this  charge, 
which  is  to  be  lamented.  Wood,  it  is  true,  accuses 
him  of  having  seized  two  bags  of  gold,  which  be- 
longed to  his  college,  and  of  having  appropriated 
them  to  his  own  use;  which,  as  it  is  founded  on  no 
credible  testimony,  ought  to  be  rejected  as  contra- 
dicted by  the  whole  tenor  of  his  life. 

Dr.  Harris  was  distinguished  for  self-government, 
as  well  as  for  his  skill  in  governing  his  family  and 
his  church.  He  had  an  entire  command  over  his 
own  temper,  and  was  moderate  and  regular  in  all 
his  indulgences  and  enjoyments.  In  the  use  of  sleep, 
food,  and  recreations,  he  observed  a  moderation  and 
regularity  which  greatly  strengthened  his  constitution, 
even  to  an  advanced  age.  He  was  of  a  kind,  and 
charitable  disposition,  so  that  he  was  ever  sparing  of 
his  censures  of  others,  and  only  severe  to  himself. 
He  was  in  the  habit  of  forgetting  the  injuries  which 
he  sutfered,  while  he  was  careful  to  do  nothing  that 
could  be  injurious  to  others.  His  method  of  govern- 
ing his  children  was  admirable.     He  carefully  main- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  307 

tained  his  authority,  but  it  was  uniformly  tempered 
with  kindness,  and  exercised  with  gravity.  While 
they  were  very  young,  he  instructed  them  by  causing 
them  to  repeat  historical  passages  from  the  Bible. 
He  next  accustomed  them  to  repeat  what  they  had 
read  or  heard;  and  when  they  were  old  enough,  he 
instructed  them  in  the  doctrines  of  religion;  and  not 
satisfied  with  theoretical  instruction,  he  earnestly  and 
affectionately  inculcated  on  them  the  practice  of  re- 
hgion.  He  was  vigilant  in  guarding  their  morals; 
and  when  he  observed  in  any  of  them  a  constitu- 
tional tendency  to  any  vice,  he  was  careful  to  put 
them  on  the  watch,  and  to  use  means  to  counteract 
every  such  tendency.  The  fruit  of  these  paternal  la- 
bours answered  his  most  sanguine  expectations.  His 
family  was  an  example  of  good  order,  mutual  affec- 
tion, and  piety.  And  his  solicitude  was  not  confined 
to  his  children,  but  was  extended  to  his  servants, 
whom  he  diligently  instructed  and  exhorted;  and  to 
whom  he  showed  uniform  kindness  and  gentleness; 
so  that  several  had  the  greatest  reason  to  bless  God, 
that  they  ever  came  under  his  roof. 

Dr.  Harris  found  his  chief  pleasure  in  communion 
with  God.  He  accounted  those  his  best  days,  in 
which  he  enjoyed  most  intercourse  with  heaven.  On 
one  occasion,  when  sick,  a  person  asked  him  how  he 
did,  he  said  "  0  this  has  been  a  sweet  day,  I  have 
had  sweet  communion  with  God  in  Jesus  Christ." 

Though  he  became  pious  early  in  life,  he  was  un- 
able to  tell  the  precise  time  or  means  of  his  conver- 
sion. He  was  very  attentive  to  the  duty  of  self-ex- 
amination, and  was  in  the  habit  of  writing  down  in 
a  book,  the  evidences  which  he  found  in  himself,  on 
account  of  which  he  hoped  to  reach  heaven.  These 
were  commonly  in  the  form  of  propositions  drawn 
from  the  Holy  Scriptures.  But  his  best  evidence  was 
the  uniform  tenor  of  a  holy  life.  He  walked  with 
God,  in  piety,  charity,  patience,  humility,  and  an  en- 
tire dependence  upon  him  for  every  thing. 

After  he  had  settled  all  his  worldly  affairs,  and  his 
children  were  all  disposed  of,  and  he  seemed  to  have 


308 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


nothing  to  do  but  quietly  wait  for  his  change,  it 
pleased  Providence  to  afflict  him  with  a  heavy  cala- 
mity. His  wife,  who  had  been  his  affectionate  com- 
panion for  fifty  years,  and  was  eminently  pious,  now 
in  her  old  age,  fell  under  such  horrible  temptations, 
as  terrified  all  who  came  near  her.  He  bore  this 
trying  affliction  with  much  meekness  and  patience, 
observing  that  *'  Grace  and  comfort  are  from  God 
alone,"  so  that  this  distressing  event  only  served  to 
shed  a  brighter  lustre  on  his  graces,  and  to  stir  him 
up  to  more  diligence  and  fervour  in  his  religious  ex- 
ercises. 

In  his  last  sickness,  he  spent  his  whole  time  in 
prayer,  meditation,  and  reading  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
especially  the  Psalms,  Isaiah,  and  the  Gospel  of  John. 
He  delighted  exceedingly  in  the  10th,  14th,  15th, 
16th,  and  17th  chapters  of  this  Evangelist;  and  when 
he  was  no  longer  able  to  read  himself,  he  requested 
others  to  read  to  him,  and  he  would  expound  the 
passage  as  they  proceeded.  He  warmly  exhorted 
those  persons  who  visited  and  attended  him,  to  seek 
above  all  things,  to  obtain  the  precious  grace  of  faith. 
On  the  Lord's  day  he  would  have  none  to  remain  at 
home  on  his  account;  but  exhorted  all  to  go  to  the 
house  of  God;  and  when  they  had  returned,  he 
would  say,  "  And  what  have  you  for  me?''  meaning 
that  they  should  repeat  to  him  the  truths  which  they 
had  heard.  And  he  would  often  exclaim,  "0  what 
excellent  truths  are  these;  lay  them  up  carefully,  you 
will  have  need  of  them." 

When  his  friends  came  to  visit  him,  he  would  ad- 
mit them  to  his  chamber,  but  would  say  "I  cannot 
speak  much,  but  I  can  hear;"  yet  when  asked  where 
his  comfort  lay,  he  answered,  *' in  Christ,  and  in  the 
free  grace  of  God."  He  said  "he  derived  his  com- 
fort from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  divine  grace,  reigning  through  righteousness 
unto  eternal  life."  When  it  was  remarked,  that  he 
might  take  much  comfort  from  his  labours  and  his 
usefulness,  he  replied,  "All  is  nothing  without  a  Sa- 
viour; without  him,  my  best  works  would  condemn 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  309 

me.  0^  I  am  ashamed  of  them,  being  mixed  with  so 
much  sin.  0,  I  am  an  unprofitable  servant!  I  liave 
not  done  any  thing  for  God,  as  I  ought.  Loss  of  time 
sits  heavy  on  my  spirits.  Work,  work  apace.  Be 
assured,  nothing  will  more  trouble  you,  when  you 
come  to  die,  than  that  you  have  done  no  more  for 
God,  who  has  done  so  much  for  you."  He  further 
said,  "  I  never  in  all  my  life  saw  the  worth  of  Christ, 
nor  tasted  the  sweetness  of  God's  love,  as  I  now  do." 
When  his  friends  asked  him,  what  they  should  do  for 
him,  he  said,  "You  must  not  only  pray  for  me,  but 
praise  God  for  his  unspeakable  mercy  to  me;  and 
particularly,  that  he  has  kept  Satan  from  me,  in  my 
weakness.  0,  how  good  is  God!  Entertain  good, 
good  thoughts  of  him.  However  it  be  with  us,  we 
cannot  think  too  well  of  him,  nor  too  ill  of  our- 
selves." 

In  his  last  will  and  testament,  he  bequeathed  to 
each  of  his  children  a  Bible,  with  this  inscription  on 
each  copy,  "  None  but  Christ."  To  his  particular 
friends  who  surrounded  his  death  bed,  he  said,  "  I 
am  now  going  home,  even  quite  spent.  I  am  now  at 
the  shore,  but  leave  you  still  tossing  on  the  sea.  0, 
it  is  a  good  time  to  die."  And  when  still  nearer  his 
end,  being  asked  how  he  did,  he  said,  "  In  no  great 
pain,  I  praise  God;  only  weary  of  my  useless  life.  If 
God  has  no  more  service  for  me  to  do  here,  I  would 
be  gladly  in  heaven,  where  I  could  serve  him  better, 
delivered  from  sin  and  distractions.  I  pass  from  one 
death  to  another,  yet  I  fear  none.  I  praise  God  that 
I  can  live,  and  dare  die.  If  God  has  more  work  for 
me  to  do  here,  I  am  willing  to  do  it,  though  my  in- 
firm body  be  very  weary."  Afterwards  he  said,  •'  I 
do  no  good  now;  I  hinder  other  persons,  who  might 
be  better  employed,  if  I  were  removed.  Why  should 
we  desire  to  live,  but  to  do  God  service?"  When, 
from  the  extremity  of  his  disease,  his  physicians  pro- 
hibited his  attempting  to  speak,  he  had  his  children 
to  read  to  him,  and  often  signified  to  his  son,  his  de- 
sire that  he  should  go  to  prayer. 


310  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

He  died  on  the  11th  of  December,  1658,  aged  eighty 
years. 

His  character  has  been  thus  drawn:  "He  was  a 
man  of  great  abilities,  a  hard  student,  and  richly  fur- 
nished with  all  learning  which  is  necessary  to  a  di- 
vine. He  was  a  pure  and  elegant  Latin  scholar,  had 
considerable  knowledge  of  Greek,  and  was  a  master 
of  the  Hebrew.  He  was  greatly  admired,  as  a  subtle, 
clear,  and  very  ready  disputant.  He  excelled  in  chro- 
nology, church  history,  the  fathers,  councils,  and  casu- 
istical theology.  But  it  was  in  the  pulpit  that  his 
abilities  appeared  to  the  best  advantage.  His  gifts 
and  graces  were  eminent,  in  public  prayer;  his  affec- 
tions were  warm  and  elevated,  his  petitions  appro- 
priate and  weighty,  and  his  language  pertinent,  un- 
affected, and  without  tautology.  He  was  accounted 
not  only  a  good  preacher,  but  a  judicious  divine. 
His  sermons,  though  ably  composed,  were  so  plain 
and  so  clearly  unfolded  the  grand  mysteries  of  the 
gospel,  that  persons  of  the  meanest  capacity  could 
understand  them." 

For  twenty  years,  in  the  former  part  of  his  minis- 
try, he  wrote  his  sermons  accurately,  and  carefully 
committed  them  to  m.emory,  which  he  could  do  with 
much  ease.  He  was  very  copious,  and  particularly 
in  the  application  of  his  sermons.  He  had  an  admi- 
rable faculty  of  engaging  the  attention  and  warming 
the  feelings  of  his  audience.  In  his  private  character, 
as  the  foregoing  history  of  his  life  testifies,  he  was 
truly  exemplary  in  all  the  relations  which  he  sus- 
tained. His  charity  to  the  poor,  his  humility,  self* 
denial,  gravity,  and  diligence,  were  conspicuous.  In 
short,  he  was  a  most  accomplished  preacher,  and  a 
consistent  and  lively  Christian;  and  many  rejoiced  in 
his  light,  and  profited  by  his  labours. 

He  used  to  say,  "  that  a  preacher  has  three  books 
to  study,  the  Bible,  himself,  and  the  people."  He 
advised  young  preachers  to  write  largely,  and  to  keep 
their  notes  for  all  emergencies.  He  observed,  that 
the  humblest  preachers  converted  the  most  souls,  not 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


311 


the  most  choice  scholars,  unless  their  learning  was 
truly  sanctified.  He  said,  ^'that  he  valued  no  man 
for  his  gifts,  but  for  his  humility,  under  them.  Nor 
did  he  expect  much  from  any  man,  were  his  parts 
ever  so  great,  until  he  was  broken  and  humbled  by 
afflictions  and  temptations."  It  was  a  maxim  with 
him,  "that  so  much  humiHty  as  any  man  had,  so 
much  grace,  and  no  more." — "And  that  it  was  just 
in  God  to  deny  us  the  comfort  of  our  graces,  when 
we  deny  him  the  glory  of  them." 

He  used  to  say,  "  that  some  common  duties  were 
very  difficult  to  him,  such  as  to  deny  himself  to  the 
extent  he  ought — to  live  only  by  faith  on  the  promise, 
without  a  pawn — to  ascribe  all  to  free  grace  and  to 
Christ  alone — to  love,  where  we  meet  with  the  want 
of  love — to  continue  long  in  holy  thoughts — and  to 
confine  our  attention  to  the  prayers  of  another  per- 
son." 

He  was  wont  to  say,  "that  it  was  a  hard  thing  for 
a  saint  to  forgive  himself  some  faults,  even  when 
God  has  forgiven  them;  and  that  we  know  but  little 
of  Christ's  love,  until  it  is  all  spread  before  us  in 
heaven." 

His  last  will  and  testament  contains  much  excellent 
advice  to  his  wife  and  his  numerous  children. 

His  published  writings  are, 

1.  The  Way  to  True  Happiness,  in  twenty-four 
sermons. 

2.  A  Treatise  on  the  New  Covenant.  Ezek.  xi. 
19,  20. 

3.  Sermons  to  the  Clergy,  in  Latin. 

All  his  works  were  published  in  pne  vol.  fol.  Lon- 
don, 1654. 

Herle,  Charles,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Corn- 
wall, in  the  year  159S,  and  was  the  third  son  of  Ed- 
ward Herle,  Esq.  He  received  his  education  in  Ex- 
eter College,  Oxford,  where  he  entered,  as  a  student, 
in  1612.  He  took  degrees  in  the  arts,  and  entered 
the  holy  ministry,  and  was  first  in  Devonshire.  After- 
wards, he  was  made  rector  of  Wenwick,  in  Lanca- 


312  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

shire.  In  the  civil  war  he  sided  with  the  ParHament; 
and  was  selected  to  be  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster;  and  upon  the  death  of  Dr. 
Twisse,  was  appointed  the  prolocutor  of  that  body. 
He  took  the  Covenant,  and  preached  frequently  be- 
fore the  Parliament,  and  was  one  of  the  select  com- 
mittee for  the  examination  and  approbation  of  minis- 
ters, who  were  candidates  for  the  sequestered  livings. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  committee  of  accommodation, 
in  1645;  and  was  also  one  of  those  appointed  to  pre- 
pare materials  for  the  Confession  of  Faith.  In  church 
government,  he  was  no  Erastian,  but  a  moderate 
Presbyterian.  Although  he  wrote  against  the  Inde- 
pendents, he  commends  their  peaceable  spirit,  and 
says:  ^' The  difference  between  us  and  our  brethren, 
who  are  for  independency,  is  nothing  so  great  as  has 
been  conceived.  At  most,  it  does  but  ruffle  a  little  the 
fringe,  not  any  way  rend  the  garment  of  Christ :  it  is  so 
far  from  being  a  fundamental,  it  is  scarcely  a  material 
difference."  "in  1647,  Mr.  Herle,  and  Mr.  Stephen 
Marshall  were  appointed  to  attend  the  commissioners 
of  Parliament  to  Scotland,  to  give  the  Scots  a  just 
view  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  England. 

After  the  death  of  the  king,  he  retired  to  his 
charge  at  Winwick,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  and  where  he  was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
his  flock,  and  by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry. 

In  1651,  the  earl  of  Derby  raised  a  regiment  of 
soldiers  for  Charles  II.  then  on  his  march  from  Scot- 
land, when  he  came  near  to  Winwick,  he  sent  a  party 
of  horse  to  Herle's  house,  to  bring  him  to  his  camp. 
The  family  were  thrown  into  great  consternation,  ex- 
pecting that  they  would  be  plundered  and  ruined:  but 
Lieutenant  Arundal,  who  commanded  the  detachment, 
treated  them  civilly;  and  when  Mr.  Herle  arrived  at 
the  earl's  camp,  he  was  very  kindly  received,  and 
sent  back  under  a  safe  guard;  and  when  his  forces 
were  defeated,  Arundal  was  dangerously  wounded, 
and  was  received  into  the  house  of  Mr.  Herle,  where 
he  was  attended  and  nursed  by  the  family  in  the  ten- 
derest  manner.     He  was  appointed  with  Mr.  Isaac 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


313 


Ambrose,  aud  Mr.  Edward  Gee,  a  commissioner,  for 
ejecting  scandalous  ministers  and  schoolmasters,  in 
the  county  of  Lancaster,  in  which  business  he  is  said 
to  have  proceeded  impartially,  and  in  the  opinion  of 
some,  rigidly. 

The  Rev.  John  Hume  was  ordained  at  Winwicl?, 
by  Mr.  Herle,  with  the  assistance  of  a  few  other  min- 
isters. Dr.  Fuller  says,  "  that  he  was  a  good  scholar, 
and  esteemed  by  his  party,  a  deep  divine;  and  was  so 
much  the  Cinistian,  the  scholar,  and  the  gentleman, 
that  he  could  live  in  friendship  with  those  who  dif- 
fered from  him." 

His  death  occurred  in  the  year  1659. 

His  published  writings  are, 

1.  Microcosmography;  Essays  and  Characters. 

2.  Contemplations,  &c.,on  our  Saviour's  Passion. 

3.  An  Answer  to  Dr.  Henry  Fearne. 

4.  Several  sermons,  on  particular  occasions. 

5.  The  Independency  on  Scriptures  of  the  Inde- 
pendency of  Churches. 

6.  Worldly  Policy  and  Moral  Prudence. 

This  valuable  little  book  was  re-printed  under  the 
title  of  "  Wisdom's  Tripos,  in  three  Treatises.  1. 
Worldly  Policy.  2.  Moral  Prudence.  3.  Christian 
Wisdom." 

Heyrick,  Richard,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  was  born  in  London,  and 
educated  in  Merchant  Taylor's  school.  He  became 
a  commoner  of  St.  John's  College,  Oxford,  in  the  year 
1617,  when  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  After 
taking  his  degrees  in  the  arts,  he  was  elected  a  fellow 
of  All-souls'  College,  in  1624,  about  which  time  he 
entered  into  holy  orders.  He  was  for  a  while  settled 
as  pastor  of  a  church  in  Norfolk;  and  was  made 
Warden  of  Christ's  College,  Manchester,  in  Lan- 
cashire. 

Mr.  Heyrick  took  the  covenant,  and  was  very  zeal- 
ous in  promoting  a  reformation  in  the  church.  In 
1644,  he,  and  other  ministers,  to  the  number  of  twenty- 


314 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


one,  were  vested  with  authority  to  ordain  ministers 
for  the  county  of  Lancaster. 

Mr.  Heyrick  was  involved  in  what  was  called 
Love's  plot,  from  Christopher  Love;  the  object  of 
which  was,  to  bring  in  Charles  II.  after  his  father's 
death.  Love  and  Gibbons  suffered  capitally,  and 
others  were  committed  to  prison;  but  how  Mr.  Hey- 
rick escaped,  we  know  not;  but  we  find  him  after- 
wards on  the  committee  for  the  ejectment  of  ignorant 
and  scandalous  ministers,  and  school-masters,  in  Lan- 
cashire. 

He  was  zealous  for  the  restoration;  and  gave  so 
much  satisfaction  to  the  ruling  party,  that  he  was  not 
deprived  of  his  wardenship  until  his  dying  day. 

He  died,  August  6,  1667,  aged  sixty-seven  years, 
and  was  interred  in  the  collegiate  church  of  Manches- 
ter, where  a  handsome  monument  was  erected  over 
his  grave  by  Anna  Maria,  his  widow,  with  an  in- 
scription composed  by  his  old  friend,  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Case.  This  epitaph  gives  him  a  very  high  character, 
as  a  man  of  genteel  extraction,  a  most  diligent  student, 
a  faithful  pastor,  and  a  vigilant  guardian  of  his  col- 
lege. A  man  of  solid  judgment,  acute  penetration,  of 
singular  zeal  mingled  with  remarkable  prudence;  of 
great  gravity,  accompanied  with  much  sweetness  of 
disposition,  and  true  humility;"  and  he  was  allowed 
by  all  to  be  a  man  of  great  learning. 

Publications  of  Mr.  Heyrick: 

1.  Three  Sermons  preached  in  the  Collegiate 
Church  at  Manchester.  Psalm  cxxii.  6.  2  Thess. 
ii.  15.     Gen.  xlix.  5,  6,  7. 

2.  Queen  Esther's  Resolves;  or,  a  Princely  Pat- 
tern of  Heaven-born  Resolution, /or  all  the  Lovers  of 
God  and  their  Country.  A  fast  sermon  before  the 
House  of  Commons.     Esther  iv.  16. 

3.  Two  Sermons:  the  one  from  Galatians  iv.  16, 
the  other  from  2  Kings  xi.  12. 

HicKEs,  Gaspar,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  was  born  in  Berkshire,  in 
England;  and  educated  in  Trinity  College,  Oxford, 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  .        315 

where  he  entered  in  1621,  when  sixteen  years  of  age. 
He  took  his  degrees  in  the  arts,  and  then  entered  into 
holy  orders.  His  first  settlement  was  in  a  parish  in 
the  county  of  Cornwall;  where  he  continued  a  dili- 
gent and  faithful  preacher,  under  the  name  of  a  Puri- 
tan. When  the  civil  war  commenced,  he  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  Parliament  openly;  and  when  the 
royalists  came  into  that  county,  he  found  it  expedient 
to  retire  to  London.  He  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  some- 
times was  called  upon  to  preach  before  Parliament; 
and  often  in  the  city  of  London.  But  when  the  king's 
interest  declined,  Mr.  Hickes  returned  to  his  charge 
in  Cornwall. 

In  the  year  1654,  he  was  appointed  assistant  to  the 
commissioners  appointed  to  eject  ignorant  and  scan- 
dalous ministers,  in  Cornwall.  He  continued  at  Laud- 
rake,  where  his  parish  was  situated,  until  1662,  when 
he  shared  the  lot  of  hundreds  of  his  brethren,  and 
was  ejected  by  the  act  of  uniformity.  He  remained, 
however,  in  the  place,  and  preached  as  he  got  oppor- 
tunity. But  in  this  he  experienced  much  disturb- 
ance. One  day,  when  preaching  in  his  own  house, 
to  his  family  and  others  under  sixteen,  that  he  might 
be  within  the  provisions  of  the  Conventicle  act,  the 
young  parson  who  had  succeeded  him  was  enraged 
when  he  heard  of  this  meeting,  and  sent  civil  officers 
to  seize  upon  him  and  others;  but  they  could  find 
only  four  persons  above  sixteen,  therefore  the  magis- 
trates refused  to  commit  him,  notwithstanding  the 
officious  zeal  of  Mr.  W^innel,  the  young  minister;  for 
the  law  had  not  been  violated.  But  his  persecutor 
was  resolved  on  his  punishment,  and  went  to  some 
magistrates  in  Devonshire,  who  fined  him  in  the  sum 
of  £40;  and  when  he  appealed  to  the  sessions,  he 
was  denied  the  privilege  of  a  jury,  and  the  court, 
contrary  to  law,  not  only  confirmed  the  former  judg- 
ment of  £40,  but  added  costs  to  treble  the  amount; 
and  at  the  same  time  loaded  him  with  obloquy. 

Mr.  Hickes  died  in  the  year  1677,  about  the  seventy- 
third  year  of  his  age. 


3J6 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


His  published  writings  are, 

1.  The  Glory  and  Beauty  of  God's  Portion,  a  ser- 
mon before  the  Commons. 

2.  Ttie  Life  and  Death  of  David,  a  funeral  sermon. 

3.  The  Advantage  of  Afflictions,"  preached  before 
the  House  of  Peers,  from  Hosea  v.  15. 

Dr.  Calamy  says,  that  Mr.  Hickes  was  "a  good 
scholar,  and  a  celebrated  preacher." 

Hill,  Thomas,  D.  D.,  was  descended  of  pious  pa- 
rents, who  dedicated  him  from  his  childhood  to  the 
service  of  God;  and  accordingly,  they  determined  to 
educate  him  for  the  holy  ministry.  After  due  prepa- 
ration, he  was  sent  to  Emmanuel  College,  Cambridge, 
where  he  was  eminently  distinguished  for  diligence 
and  sobriety.  In  conformity  with  the  act  of  his  pa- 
rents, Mr.  Hill  cultivated  piety  from  his  youth,  and 
exhibited  while  in  college,  a  shining  example  of  true 
religion.  His  character  was  so  estimable,  that  the 
governors  of  his  college  elected  him  a  scholar  of  the 
house.  Afterward,  he  went  to  spend  some  time  with 
the  celebrated  Mr.  Cotton  at  Boston;  where  the  ex- 
ample and  instructions  of  this  learned  and  pious  man 
were  of  great  service  in  promoting  his  improvement. 

Upon  his  return  to  the  University,  he  was  chosen 
a  fellow  of  his  college,  after  an  uncommonly  strict 
examination. 

He  now  entered  the  ministry,  and  became  celebrated 
as  a  preacher;  so  that  he  was  invited  to  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Tichmarsh,in  Northamptonshire,  England; 
where  he  fulfilled  the  duties  of  his  office,  with  fidelity 
and  steadiness,  for  eight  or  nine  years;  when  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  West- 
minster, for  the  county  of  Northampton.  Here  he 
was  a  useful  member;  and  was  frequently  employed 
to  preach  before  the  Parliament,  and  was  chosen  one 
of  the  lecturers  at  Westminster  Abbey.  Afterwards, 
he  was  first  appointed  master  of  Emmanuel  College, 
and  then  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge.  In  these 
high  stations,  Mr.  Hill  conducted  himself  with  great 
prudence  and  circumspection.     His  object  was  uni- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  317 

formly  to  promote  piety  and  good  order  among  the 
students.  In  government,  he  united  dignity  with 
meekness  and  condescension.  He  was  two  years  in 
the  otfice  of  Vice  Chancellor  of  the  University.  In 
his  preaching,  he  was  strictly  Calvinistic,  and  strenu- 
ously defended  the  doctrines  of  God's  sovereignty  in 
his  decrees;  and  his  free  love  and  grace  in  election; 
of  justification  by  the  imputed  righteousness  of  Christ; 
and  of  the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints  in  a  state 
of  grace.  His  style  of  preaching  was  plain,  power- 
ful, and  spiritual.  He  was  also,  through  his  life,  a 
diligent  and  laborious  preacher  of  the  gospel;  for 
while  in  the  University,  beside  his  regular  services  in 
the  pulpit,  he  set  up  a  lecture  on  Sunday  morning, 
which  he  kept  up  without  assistance  from  other  min- 
isters. 

Though  naturally  modest,  yet  when  the  cause  of 
truth  required  it,  he  was  bold  and  determined.  He 
always  manifested  the  deepest  interest  in  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom;  and  to  his  other  qualities  he  added 
deep  and  unfeigned  humility,  and  kind  and  affable 
manners  in  social  intercourse. 

When  asked  by  Dr.  Tuckney,  in  his  last  illness, 
respecting  his  state  of  mind,  he  said,  "  that  through 
the  mercy  of  God  his  peace  was  made."  Immediately 
after  which  he  departed  with  tranquillity,  December 
18,  1653,  in  an  advanced  age,  and  much  lamented. 

Neal,  in  his  history  of  the  Puritans,  says,  "  that  Dr. 
Hill  was  a  good  scholar,  a  strict  Calvinist,  a  plain, 
powerful,  and  practical  preacher;  and  of  a  holy  and 
unblameable  conversation."  Mr.  Palmer  mentions, 
"  that  Dr.  Hill  was  a  great  favourite  with  the  earl  of 
Warwick,  at  whose  home  he  became  acquainted  with 
Mrs.  Willford,  whom  he  afterwards  married. 

Dr.  Hill's  published  writings: 

1.  The  Trade  of  Truth  Advanced.  A  sermon  be- 
fore the  House  of  Commons,  from  Proverbs  xxiii.  23. 

2.  The  Militant  Church  Triumphant  over  the  Dra- 
gon and  his  Angels.  A  sermon  before  both  Houses 
of  Parliament,  from  Rev.  xii.  11. 

3.  The  Good  Old  Way  to  Soul-refreshing  Rest.     A 


318  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

sermon  before  the   Lord   Mayor  and  Aldermen  of 
London,  from  Jeremiah  vi.  16. 

4.  The  Season  for  England's  Self-reflection,  and 
Advancing  Temple  Work.  A  sermon  before  both 
Houses  of  Parliament,  from  Hag.  i.  7,  8. 

5.  The  Right  Separation  Encouraged.  A  sermon 
before  the  House  of  Peers,  from  2  Cor.  vi.  17,  18. 

6.  Dr.  Hill  published  several  other  sermons,  the 
titles  of  which  are  not  known  now. 

Hodges,  Thomas,  B.  D.,  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster,  was  minister  of  the  gospel 
at  Kensington,  in  Middlesex.  He  is  marked  by  Neal, 
as  one  who  gave  constant  attendance.  After  the 
restoration,  he  became  rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  in 
Cornhill,  London,  in  which  station  he  continued  until 
his  death,  in  vhe  year  1672. 

Mr.  Hodges'  writings  are, 

1.  A  Glimpse  of  God's  Glory;  a  sermon  before 
the  House  of  Commons,  from  Psalm  cxiii.  5,  6. 

2.  The  Growth  and  Spreading  of  Heresy;  a  ser- 
mon before  the  House  of  Commons,  from  2  Peter 
ii.  2. 

3.  Inaccessible  Glory;  or,  the  Impossibility  of  See- 
ing God's  Face,  while  we  are  in  the  Body.  A  fune- 
ral sermon,  on  the  death  of  Sir  Theodore  de  Mayerne, 
from  Exod.  xxxni.  20. 

HoYLE,  Joshua,  D.  D.,  was  born  near  Halifax,  in 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  educated  in  Magdalen  Col- 
lege, Oxford.  After  leaving  Oxford,  he  was  invited  to 
Ireland,  and  became  fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Dub- 
lin, where  he  took  his  degrees,  and  was  chosen  Profes- 
sor of  Divinity.  He  devoted  himself  much  to  the  study 
of  the  Bible,  and  soon  became  a  profound  theologian. 
In  his  lectures,  he  expounded  the  whole  Bible,  in 
order,  which  occupied  him  fifteen  years;  and  having 
finished  this  course,  in  the  college,  he  commenced 
again,  in  the  Church  of  Trinity  College,  and  in  about 
ten  years,  went  through  the  greater  part  of  the  sacred 
volume. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  3J9 

He  also  entered  deeply  into  the  Popish  controversy, 
and  wrote  against  Bellarmine,  their  great  champion. 
He  began  with  the  cardinal's  work  on  the  Seven  Sa- 
craments, and  afterwards  proceeded  to  his  other  con- 
troversial works.  He  remained  in  Dublin  until  the 
year  1641,  when  the  Irish  massacre  took  place,  which 
induced  him  to  go  over  to  England,  where  he  was 
made  minister  of  Stepney. 

In  1 643,  Dr.  Hoyle  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  was  constant 
in  his  attendance.  He  was  greatly  reverenced  and  es- 
teemed in  this  body,  for  his  ripe  scholarship,  especially 
for  his  skill  in  the  Greek  and  Latin  Fathers.  He  was 
an  important  witness  against  Archbishop  Laud,  on 
his  trial,  and  testified  that  he  had  corrupted  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  by  preparing  the  way  for  Popery 
and  Arminianism.  He  was  one  of  the  committee 
for  the  trial  of  applicants  for  sequestered  livings;  and 
he  was  put  on  the  "  Committee  of  Accommodation,'' 
and  in  1648  was  appointed  a  master  of  University 
College,  Oxford,  and  king's  Professor  of  Divinity  in 
that  University. 

He  died  December  6,  1654,  and  was  buried  in  the 
old  chapel  belonging  to  University  College. 

Dr.  Hoyle  was  eminently  learned,  indefatigably 
laborious,  and  as  well  qualified  for  academic  office  as 
any  other  man  of  his  time.  He  was  greatly  respected 
by  the  famous  Archbishop  Usher. 

Besides  his  writings  against  Bellarmine,  he  was 
the  author  of  a  ^'Rejoinder"  to  Mr.  "Malone's  Re- 
ply," which  is  said  to  be  a  very  learned  and  elaborate 
work. 

Jackson,  John,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster,  and  is  marked  in  Neal's  cata- 
logue as  a  constant  attendant.  He  was  preacher  of 
Gray's  Inn;  but  other  information  respecting  him  is 
wanting. 

Langley,  John,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  was  minister  of  West-Tu- 


320 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


derly,  in  the  county  of  Southampton,  in  England.  He 
preached  before  the  House  of  Commons;  and  has  left 
one  sermon  behind  him,  entitled,  "  The  Mournful 
Note  of  the  Dove." 

Ley,  John,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines 
at  Westminster,  was  born  in  the  borough  of  War- 
wick, England,  February  4,  1583.  He  became  a 
scholar  of  Christ-Church  College  in  1601,  where  he 
remained  until  he  proceeded  A.  M.  Having  finished 
his  studies  in  the  University,  he  was  presented  to  the 
vicarage  of  Great  Bud  worth,  in  Cheshire,  where  he 
was  a  constant  preacher  for  many  years.  He  was 
made  a  prebendary  of  the  church  in  Chester,  and 
was  once  or  tv/ice  elected  a  member  of  the  convoca- 
tion. When  the  civil  war  commenced,  he  espoused 
the  Parliament's  cause,  took  the  covenant,  and  was 
appointed  examiner,  in  Latin,  to  the  Assembly.  He 
was  made  rector  of  Ashfield,  in  Chester;  chairman 
of  the  committee  for  the  approbation  of  ministers; 
one  of  the  printing  committee;  and  one  of  the  com- 
mittee for  the  ordination  of  ministers,  according  to 
the  Presbyterian  form. 

In  1645,  he  was  chosen  president  of  Sion  College, 
and  was  inducted  into  the  living  of  Brightwell,  Berk- 
shire. 

In  1653,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  triers  of 
ministers,  and  in  the  following  year,  an  assistant  to 
the  commissioners  appointed  to  eject  ignorant  and 
scandalous  ministers  and  schoolmasters  in  Berkshire. 
After  some  time,  Mr.  Ley  removed  from  Brightwell, 
and  was  presented  to  Solihull,  in  Warwickshire.  But 
here,  by  too  much  exertion,  he  ruptured  a  blood  ves- 
sel, which  led  him  to  resign  his  charge,  as  he  was 
henceforth  unable  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office. 
The  remainder  of  his  days,  he  lived  privately,  until 
the  16th  of  May,  1662,  when  he  rested  from  his  la- 
bours, aged  seventy-nine  years.  His  remains  were 
deposited  in  the  church  at  Sutton-Colfield. 

Mr.  Ley  was  esteemed  an  excellent  preacher,  and 
an  eminently  learned  theologian;  and  his  piety  was 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  321 

as  remarkable  as  his  learning.     He  was  thoroughly 
versed  in  ecclesiastical  antiquities;   with  the  fathers 
and  councils  he  was  familiar:  and  he  was  reckoned 
one  of  the  chief  pillars  of  Presbyterianism. 
Mr.  Ley's  writings  are, 

1.  An  Apology  in  Defence  of  the  Geneva  Notes 
on  the  Bible. 

2.  A  Pattern  of  Piety;  or,  the  Religious  Life  and 
Death  of  JNIrs.  Jane  RatclifF,  of  Chester. 

3.  Several  occasional  sermons. 

4.  A  Monitor  of  Mortality;  two  funeral  sermons. 

5.  The  Fury  of  War,  and  Folly  of  Sin;  a  sermon 
before  the  House  of  Commons.     Jer.  iv.  21,  22. 

6.  Sunday  a  Sabbath. 

7.  Defensive  Doubts,  &c.,  for  Refusal  of  the  Oath 
imposed  by  the  Sixth  Canon  of  the  Synod. 

8.  A  Letter  against  the  erection  of  an  Altar. 

9.  Case  of  Conscience,  concerning  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. 

10.  Parliamentary  Protestation,  compared  with  the 
late  Canonical  Oath;  also.  Opposition  between  the 
Churches  of  England  and  Rome. 

11.  Further  Divisions  respecting  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. 

12.  A  Discourse  concerning  Puritans. 

13.  Examination  of  Saltmarsh's  New  Query. 

14.  Light  for  Smoke;  an  answer  to  John  Salt- 
marsh's  "  Smoke  in  the  Temple."  To  which  is  added 
Novello-mastix,  "  A  Scourge  for  a  scurrilous  News- 
monger.'^ 

15.  An  After-reckoning  with  Mr.  Saltmarsh. 

.16.  Atmotations  on  the  Pentateuch;  and  on  the 
Four  Evangelists,  in  English  Annotations. 

17.  A  Learned  Defence  of  Tithes. 

18.  General  Reasons  against  a  Fifth  to  Sequestered 
Ministers. 

19.  An  Acquittance  from  Dr.  E.  H.  (Edward 
Hyde.) 

20.  A  Letter  to  Dr.  Edward  Hyde. 

21.  A  Debate  concerning  the  English  Liturgy. 

22.  Discourse  concerning  Matters  of  Religion. 

21 


322 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


23.  Animadversions;  in  two  printed  books  of  J. 
Onely. 

24.  A  Consolatory  Letter  to  Dr.  Bryan. 

25.  Equitable  Considerations,  &c. 

26.  A  Petition  to  the  Protector. 

27.  The  Oath  of  the  Sixth  Canon  of  the  Last  Sy- 
nod of  Bishops. 

28.  Attestation  against  Errors. 

29.  Exceptions,  Many  and  Just. 

LiGHTFooT,  John,  D.  D. — The  subject  of  this  me- 
moir was  born  in  Stoke-upon-Trent,  Stafford  county, 
England,  on  the  29th  of  JNlarch,  1602,  on  the  same  day 
of  the  month  and  year,  and  nearly  at  the  same  hour 
with  Dr.  Arrowsmith.  His  mother  was  Elizabeth 
Bagnall,of  a  very  respectable  family:  three  of  which 
were  knighted,  by  queen  Ehzabeth,for  their  bravery. 
Dr.  Lightfoot  was  the  second  of  five  sons.  As  soon 
as  he  was  capable  of  receiving  the  rudiments  of  gram- 
mar, he  was  sent  to  Mr.  Whitehead,  in  the  county  of 
Chester.  From  this  school,  in  1617,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Christ's  College,  Cambridge.  There  he  was 
under  the  particular  tuition  of  Mr.  William  Chappel, 
who  was  afterwards  a  professor  in  Trinity  College, 
Dublin;  a  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  finally,  bishop  of 
Cork.  It  was  a  pecuhar  privilege,  that  his  first  teach- 
ers were  men  of  eminence,  by  which  means,  the  foun- 
dation was  well  laid,  and  his  profiting  great.  In  the 
University,  his  progress  in  learning  was  great,  espe- 
cially in  the  Latin  and  Greek.  He  continued  in 
Christ's  College  until  he  took  his  first  degree,  after 
which  he  went  and  joined  himself  as  an  assistant  to 
Mr.  Whitehead,  his  old  teacher,  who  was  now  master 
of  the  famous  school  at  Repton,in  Derbyshire.  Here 
he  remained  about  two  years,  and  made  great  profi- 
ciency in  the  Greek  language.  As  a  teacher,  he  was 
very  acceptable,  both  to  the  principal,  and  to  the 
scholars.  Soon  afterwards  he  entered  the  ministry, 
and  his  first  settlement  was  at  Norton,  under  Hales, 
in  Shropshire.  While  here  he  resided  in  the  family 
of  Sir  Rowland  Cotton,  who  was  much  pleased  with 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  323 

his  hopeful  talents.  Here  he  laid  the  foundation  of 
that  rabbinical  learning  for  which  he  was  afterwards 
so  famous.  The  occasion  of  which  was  this.  His 
patron,  Sir  Rowland  Cotton,  being  an  eminent  scho- 
lar, often  questioned  young  Lightfoot  upon  points  of 
Hebrew  learning,  in  which  he  found  himself  so  defi- 
cient, that  he  resolved  to  apply  himself  to  this  sacred 
language;  and  soon  his  talents  for  Oriental  learning 
became  manifest;  and  in  consequence  of  this  new  di- 
rection given  to  his  studies,  by  a  country  gentleman, 
he  became  one  of  the  most  eminent  rabbinical  schol- 
ars in  the  world,  as  his  numerous  works  attest. 

Wagenseil,  the  learned  author  of  "Tela  Ignea," 
says,  "John  Lightfoot,  an  Englishman,  well  versed 
in  Hebrew  literature,  performed  a  laudable  work,  in 
explaining  the  Four  Evangelists;  when,  out  of  the 
Talmud  chiefly,  he  studied  to  cast  light  on  the  sacred 
writers,  and  to  illustrate  some  of  the  more  obscure 
passages  in  them.  That  laborious  work  I  highly 
value,  for  the  whole  is  filled  with  deep  learning,  and 
furnishes  many  things  of  which  no  interpreter  ever 
thought,  or  could  think,  without  skill  in  the  Talmud. 
Would  to  God  he  had  lived  to  handle  all  the  sacred 
books  in  the  same  manner." 

Dr.  Gill,  whose  rabbinical  learning  is  well  known,, 
in  the  preface  to  his  Commentary  on  the  New  Testa- 
ment, thus  speaks:  "I  have  used  all  diligence,  both 
from  my  own  reading,  and  the  observations  of  others,, 
to  make  it  as  perfect  as  I  could;  and  from  none  have 
I  had  so  much  assistance,  as  from  the  great  Dr.  Light- 
foot, who  has  broken  the  ice  for  me,  and  pointed  out 
the  way  in  which  I  should  proceed." 

When  his  friend  and  patron.  Sir  Rowland  Cotton, 
went  to  London  to  reside,  Lightfoot  soon  followed 
him,  where  he  still  resided  in  his  family;  but  after 
continuing  some  time  in  London,  he  returned  to  the 
country,  and  took  the  opportunity  of  visiting  his  pa- 
rents at  Stoke.  About  this  time,  he  had  formed  the 
purpose  of  visiting  foreign  countries,  for  his  improve- 
ment; but  to  the  great  joy  of  his  parents,  he  was  per- 
suaded to  relinquish  his  purpose,  and  was  induced  tO' 


324 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


accept  an  invitation  to  settle  in  Stone,  in  Staffordshire, 
as  their  minister.  At  this  place  he  remained  two 
years.  But  having  fully  engaged  himself  in  rabbin- 
ical studies,  he  conld  not  find,  at  this  place,  such  ac- 
cess to  libraries  as  he  wished;  he  therefore  quitted 
Stone,  and  fixed  his  residence  at  Hornsey,  where  he 
conld  have  the  opportunity  of  consulting  the  literary 
treasures  in  the  library  of  Sion  College.  At  this 
place,  however,  he  did  not  continue  long;  for, in  1630, 
he  removed  to  Uttoxeter,  where  his  father  was  vicar; 
and  the  same  year  was  presented,  by  his  friend  and 
patron  Sir  Rowland  Cotton,  to  the  rectory  of  Ashley, 
in  Staffordshire.  This  new  residence  seemed  to  have 
completed  his  wishes;  for  now  he  resumed  his  studies, 
which  had  been  interrupted  by  his  frequent  removals, 
with  untiring  diligence.  That  he  might  be  secure 
from  interruption,  he  purchased  an  adjoining  field, 
where,  in  the  midst  of  a  garden,  he  erected  a  small 
building  containing  three  rooms,  his  study,  parlour, 
and  bed-chamber.  In  this  retirement  he  devoted  to 
his  studies,  all  the  time  which  could  be  spared  from 
his  parochial  duties;  and  not  content  in  passing  the 
day  in  study  here,  he  often  remained  there  through 
the  night,  although  his  parsonage  was  near  at  hand. 
In  this  delightful  retirement.  Dr.  Lightfoot  spent 
twelve  years,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  account  for  his 
ever  consenting  to  leave  it,  as  it  was  exactly  suited  to 
his  studious  habits,  and  to  his  taste.  But  in  1642,  he 
was  invited  to  St.  Bartholomew's  church,  near  the 
Exchange.  Stype  is  of  opinion,  that  this  removal 
was  not  voluntary,  but  owing  to  some  circumstances 
which  are  now  unknown;  for  in  his  first  address  to 
his  new  congregation,  he  says,  "I  must  ever  men- 
tion, both  in  private  to  God,  and  in  public  to  the 
world,  the  love  and  favour  which  I  have  received 
from  you;  how,  when  I  was  unknown  ye  owned  me — 
when  a  stranger,  ye  took  me  in — when  exiled  from 
mine  own,  ye  made  me  yours."  It  may  be,  how- 
ever, that  by  being  exiled,  he  only  means  to  express 
strongly,  his  reluctance  to  part  with  a  people  among 
whom  he  had  lived  so  long  in  friendly  intercourse.  It 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  325 

is  certain,  that  the  friendship  of  his  patron  was  not 
withdrawn,  and  that  the  afFeciions  of  the  people  were 
not  aUenated;  for  he  was  able  to  leave  his  own  bro- 
ther, as  his  successor  at  Ashley.  Two  reasons  can 
be  conceived,  either  of  which  was  sufficient  to  induce 
him  to  relinquish  his  beloved  retirement,  and  remove 
to  London:  the  first,  that  as  he  was  about  to  com- 
mence publishing  his  learned  works,  it  was  necessary, 
or  at  least  very  expedient,  for  him  to  be  near  the 
press:  the  other  is,  that  he  probably  had,  before  leav- 
ing Ashley, received  a  summons  to  attend  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  of  which  we  find  him 
an  active  member  the  next  year.  As  a  member  of 
this  important  convention,  he  was  assiduous  in  his 
attendance,  but  still  performed  his  ministerial  duties 
to  his  flock.  His  conduct  in  this  body  seems  to  have 
been  upright  and  conscientious.  The  part  which  he 
took  in  the  various  discussions  which  came  up,  we 
have  from  himself,  for  he  kept  a  brief  journal  of  the 
proceedings  of  each  day,  which  has  been  published 
in  the  thirteenth  volume  of  the  late  octavo  edition  of 
his  works.  He  was  appointed  one  of  the  select  com- 
mittee, for  the  examination  and  approbation  of  minis- 
ters, who  petitioned  for  livings  which  had  been  se- 
questered. In  this  famous  Assembly,  he  had  abundant 
opportunity  of  displaying  his  eminent  abilities,  and 
extensive  erudition;  and  though  not  more  than  forty 
years  of  age,  he  discovered  a  very  thorough  know- 
ledge of  divinity,  great  skill  in  rabbinical  and  oriental 
learning,  and  much  acquaintance  with  church  govern- 
ment. He  was  among  the  frequent  speakers  in  the 
Assembly,  especially  when  Jewish  or  Christian  anti- 
quities could  be  available  in  the  discussion;  and  also, 
when  the  texts  in  proof  of  the  doctrines  were  con- 
sidered. His  interpretations  of  particular  texts,  was 
sometimes  very  singular,  which,  however,  he  sup- 
ported with  much  ingenuity.  And  though  he  was 
never  arrogant  in  expressing  his  opinions,  he  was 
immovably  firm;  and  in  some  instances,  his  vote, 
according  to  his  own  account,  stood  alone,  against 
the  whole  Assembly. 


326 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


The  learning  and  integrity  of  Lightfoot,  gave  him 
great  weight  in  the  Assembly;  and  in  the  year  1643, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  churcJi  of  Much  Munden, 
Hertfordshire.  In  the  long  debates  which  were  held 
in  the  Assembly,  about  church  government  and  disci- 
pline, Lightfoot  went  zealously  with  the  Erastians, 
who  maintained  that  no  particular  form  of  church 
government  was  set  down  in  the  Scriptures,  but  that 
the  civil  magistrate  might  regulate  the  external  afiairs 
of  the  church,  according  to  his  own  pleasure;  and  that 
no  authority  was  given  by  Christ,  to  the  ordinary  min- 
isters of  the  church,  to  hinder  any  person  who  wished 
it,  from  partaking  of  the  sacraments,  although  the  min- 
ister might  warn  them  of  the  danger  of  an  improper 
approach,  and  dissuade  the  profane  and  dissolute  from 
attendance. 

He  preached  several  times  before  the  Parliament, 
and  in  one  of  his  sermons,  considers  the  subject  of  tole- 
ration, which  then  begun  to  be  much  agitated.  His 
opinions  coincided  with  those  of  the  majority  of  his 
brethren,  at  that  time,  and  agree  very  little  with  the 
sentiments  now  entertained,  especially  in  this  country, 
on  the  subject  of  religious  liberty. 

Lightfoot  took  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  in 
the  year  1652,  on  which  occasion,  his  '^  Concio  ad 
Clerum  "  was  founded  on  1  Cor.  xvi.  22.  The  word 
maranatha  he  explains  to  mean,  "the  coming  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,"  and  considered  it  as  a  threat  against  the 
unbelieving  Jews.  The  questions  on  which  he  dis- 
puted were, 

"  1.  Whether  the  death  of  Christ  procured  univer- 
sal redemption. 

"2.  Whether  the  personal  Election  of  men  from 
eternity  is  founded  in  Scripture. 

"  3.  Whether,  after  the  canon  of  Scripture  was 
closed,  new  revelations  may  be  expected." 

In  the  yearl655,Dr.  Lightfoot  was  chosen  vice-chan 
cellor  of  the  University  of  Cambridge;  an  office  which 
he  discharged  with  great  diligence,  notwithstanding 
the  many  literary  occupations  in  which  he  was  engaged. 

In  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  this  high  office,  he 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY,  327 

was  so  conscientious,  and  so  solicitous  to  do  impartial 
justice,  that,  on  one  occasion,  when,  as  he  afterwards 
thought,  having  made  an  erroneous  decision  against 
a  friend,  it  so  grieved  him,  that  although  there  was 
no  ill  intention,  he  said,  it  would  accompany  him 
with  sorrow  to  the  grave. 

While  vice-chancellor,  he  presided  in  the  Divinity 
School,  in  the  place  of  his  friend.  Dr.  Arrowsmith, 
who  was  by  sickness  prevented  from  fulfilling  the 
duties  of  his  office.  The  questions  which  were  dis- 
cussed while  he  was  in  the  chair  was,  "  1.  Whether 
the  state  of  primeval  innocence  was  a  state  of  immor- 
tality? 2.  Whether  eternal  life  was  promised,  under 
the  Old  Testament?"^ 

Munden  was  the  favourite  residence  of  Dr.  Light- 
foot;  and  whenever  he  could  find  any  leisure  from  his 
academic  engagements,  he  always  busied  himself  in 
this  pleasant  retreat. 

After  the  restoration,  having  neglected  to  procure 
a  new  title,  an  attempt  was  made  by  a  fellow  of  St. 
John's  College,  to  expel  him  from  his  living,  as  held 
from  authorities  no  longer  valid.  The  royal  signature 
had  actually  been  affixed  to  the  deed  of  ejectment; 
but  he  had,  by  his  learning  and  integrity,  conciliated 
so  many  powerful  friends,  that  upon  the  representa- 
tion of  his  great  merits,  he  was  confirmed  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  rectory.  Even  archbishop  Sheldon 
was  among  those  who  warmly  espoused  his  cause, 
although  personally  ignorant  of  him.  By  the  exer- 
tion of  the  same  friends,  he  was  confirmed  in  the  mas- 
tership  of  Catherine  Hall.  Knowing  that  the  tenure 
by  which  he  held  this  situation  was  not  now  valid, 
he  voluntarily  offered  to  resign  in  favour  of  Dr.  Spur- 
stow,  whom  he  succeeded,  and  who  had  been  super- 
seded in  republican  times.  But  Dr.  Spurstow,  aware 
that  the  members  of  Catherine  Hall  must  be  very 
reluctant  to  part  with  so  bright  an  ornament  and 
illustrious  a  scholar  as  Dr.  Lightfoot,  declined  the 

1  1.  Status  Integritatis  fuit  status  Immortalitatis  ?     2.  Vita  .Eterna 
promissa  fuit  sub  Veteri  Testamento  ? 


328 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


offer.  The  transaction  is  equally  honourable  to  the 
disinterested  spirit  of  both  those  distinguished  men. 

Upon  the  refusal  of  Dr.  Spurstow  to  resume  his 
former  station,  as  master  of  the  Hall,  Dr.  Lightfoot 
laid  his  petition  at  the  foot  of  the  throne,  and  imme- 
diately received  the  royal  grant;  and  on  his  return  to 
Cambridge,  the  fellows  of  Catherine  Hall  rode  out 
some  miles  to  meet  him,  with  their  respectful  con- 
gratulations, and  received  him  with  the  same  ceremo- 
nies as  if  he  had  been  installed  a  new  master  of  their 
College.  Indeed,  he  was  ever  ready  to  promote  the 
prosperity  of  his  College,  not  only  by  his  learning,  but 
by  his  pecuniary  contributions,  when  any  improve- 
ments were  proposed.  His  name  is  still  enrolled  as 
a  benefactor  of  Catherine  Hall. 

In  the  exercise  of  discipline,  he  so  sympathized 
with  the  person  on  whom  punishment  fell,  that  it  is 
said,  that  in  inflicting  censures,  he  appeared  to  suffer 
as  much  as  the  culprit. 

Another  promotion  which  Dr.  Lightfoot  received, 
was,  to  a  prebend  at  Stall,  in  the  church  of  Ely, 
through  the  favour  of  Sir  Orlando  Bridgman,  before 
whom  he  had  several  times  preached,  at  the  assizes, 
at  Hereford. 

In  April,  1660,  Dr.  Lightfoot  attended  the  Confer- 
ence at  Savoy,  at  the  bishop  of  London's  lodgings, 
between  the  Episcopalians  and  Presbyterians,  relative 
to  changes  in  the  book  of  Common  Prayer.  He  at- 
tended among  the  assistants  of  the  Presbyterian  Di- 
vines, but  he  was  very  little  satisfied  with  the  intem- 
perate manner  in  which  the  debates  were  conducted, 
and  attended  only  once  or  twice. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1675,  Dr.  Lightfoot, 
while  journeying  from  Cambridge  to  Ely,  caught  a 
violent  cold,  accompanied  with  fever.  The  malady 
affected  principally  his  head,  and  was  aggravated  by 
a  few  glasses  of  claret,  which  he  was  persuaded  to 
drink — a  beverage  to  which  he  was  entirely  unac- 
customed; for  his  common  drink  was  water,  or  occa- 
sionally a  draught  of  small  beer.  His  reason,  during 
his  sickness,  remained  unimpaired  j  and  his  piety  was 


WESTMINSTER    ASSE^IBLY. 


329 


conspicuous  throughout  the  whole  of  his  latter  hours. 
When  questioned  as  to  his  views  and  his  state,  he 
answered,  "  that  he  was  in  the  hands  of  a  good  God." 
As  the  fever  subsided,  a  lethargy  came  on,  which 
continued  for  a  fortnight;  when,  on  the  sixth  of  De- 
cember, 1675,  he  expired,  in  the  seventy-fourth  year 
of  his  age.  His  remains  were  removed  to  Munden, 
of  which  he  had  been  the  rector  for  thirty-two  years. 
His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Mr.  Full  wood, 
formerly  of  Catherine  Hall.  An  inscription  for  his 
tomb,  was  composed  by  Dr.  Gardner,  but  on  some 
account,  it  was  never  adopted. 

Dr.  Lightfoot  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Joyce,  widow  of  Mr.  Crompton,  of  Staffordshire. 
The  Doctor  became  acquainted  with  this  lady,  while 
he  resided  in  Sir  Rowland  Cotton's  family.  I3y  this 
marriage  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  His 
oldest  son,  John,  took  orders,  and  became  chaplain  to 
bishop  Walton.  His  second  son,  "  Anastasius  Cotto- 
nus  Jacksonus,"  was  named  thus  as  a  memorial  of 
his  two  noble  friends,  Sir  Rowland  Cotton,  and  Sir  J. 
Jackson;  and  his  third  son,  also  named  Anastasius, 
was  brought  up  a  tradesman;  and  Thomas,  the 
youngest,  died  at  an  early  age.  His  daughter  Joyce, 
was  married  to  Mr.  Duckfield,  rector  of  Aspeden,  in 
Hertfordshire;  and  Sarah,  the  second  daughter,  to  a 
gentleman  by  the  name  of  Colclough,  of  Staffordshire. 
With  his  first  wife.  Dr.  Lightfoot  lived  nearly  thirty 
years.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Ann  Brograve,  a 
widow,  related  to  Sir  T.  Brograve,  Bart.;  a  gentleman 
very  dear  to  Lightfoot,  on  account  of  his  delight  in 
rabbinical  learning.  By  his  second  wife  he  had  no 
issue,  whom  he  survived. 

Dr.  Lightfoot  was  of  a  ruddy,  but  mild  countenance; 
of  a  good  stature,  and  well  proportioned.  He  was  in 
manners  grave,  but  easy  of  access;  affable  and  cour- 
teous, and  very  communicative  to  all  inquirers;  plain, 
unaffected,  and  gentlemanly.  In  the  company  of 
ingenious  and  learned  men,  he  was  free  and  unre- 
strained in  conversation;  but  if  he  happened  to  fall 
into  the  company  of  rude  and  profligate  men,  he 


330 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


showed  his  disapprobation  of  their  conversation,  by- 
keeping  entire  silence.  On  returning  from  a  journey, 
he  did  not  visit  his  family,  until  he  had  retired  to  his 
study,  to  offer  his  thanksgivings  to  God.  Temperate 
and  abstemious  in  diet,  he  abstained  altogether  from 
wine,  and  drank  only  water  or  small  beer,  whicli  he 
chose  to  use,  when  new.  As  to  food,  he  cheerfully 
partook  of  whatever  was  set  before  him,  never  ex- 
pressing any  fastidious  dislikes,  but  praising  God  for 
the  supply  of  his  temporal  wants.  This  systematic 
temperance  had  given  him  a  sound  and  healthy  con- 
stitution, so  that  even  in  an  advanced  age,  he  was 
able  to  pursue  his  studies  without  intermission.  In 
a  letter  to  Buxtorf,  not  above  a  year  before  his  death, 
he  congratulates  himself,  with  pious  acknowledg- 
ments to  God,  on  account  of  his  "  vivacitatem  corpo- 
ris, animi,  atque  oculorum," — "'the  liveliness  of  his 
body,  mind,  and  eyes.'^ 

Among  the  many  excellent  traits  of  character  in 
Dr.  Lightfoot,  his  remarkable  industry  is  worthy  of 
special  admiration.  He  seems  to  have  had  the  happy 
art  of  husbanding  his  time,  and  turning  every  hour  to 
some  good  purpose.  His  practice  was  to  rise  early, 
and  sit  np  late  at  his  studies;  which  was  indicated  by 
the  Hebrew  motto  of  which  he  was  very  fond,  and 
which  Bright  and  Strype  have  quoted  in  the  title-page 
to  their  edition  of  his  works,  :3n;ni  no'^n. 

Dr.  Lightfoot  was  possessed  of  a  grateful  heart;  he 
seems  never  to  have  forgotten  a  kindness  received. 
Almost  all  his  works  contain  dedications  to  such  as 
he  considered  his  benefactors;  and  some  of  these  ex- 
press a  warmth  of  feeling,  which  is  truly  remarkable. 
He  took  a  pleasure  in  showing  kindness  to  any  mem- 
ber of  the  family  of  one  who  had,  especially  in  his 
youth,  manifested  favour  to  him. 

Modesty  was  another  prominent  trait  in  the  char- 
acter of  Dr.  Lightfoot.  Few  persons  were  more  fre- 
quently consulted  by  the  learned,  and  few  scholars 
have  received  higher  commendation  from  those  whose 
commendation  was  worth  having;  and  yet  no  man 
could  be  less  inflated  by  vanity,  or  less  disposed  to 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  331 

entertain  a  high  opinion  of  himself.  Indeed,  his  ex- 
pressions of  humiUty,  when  giving  his  most  elaborate 
and  learned  works  to  the  world,  are  almost  nnparal- 
leled.  In  his  ^'Address  to  the  Reader,"  prefixed  to 
his  "  Harmony  of  the  Old  Testament,''  he  observes, 
*'  What  I  have  done,  I  leave  with  all  humility,  at  the 
reader's  mercy.  If  he  accept  it,  it  is  more  than  I  de- 
serve; if  he  censure  it,  it  is  no  more  than  I  shall  wiU 
lingly  undergo;  being  most  ready  ever  to  submit  to 
others,  and  to  acknowledge  my  own  infirmity; — bear- 
ing nothing  in  myself  but  sin,  weakness,  and  strong 
desires  to  serve  the  public."  A  similar  strain  per- 
vades several  other  of  his  addresses. 

Although  so  learned,  and  so  much  absorbed  in 
literary  pursuits,  he  never  neglected  his  parochial 
duties.  No  excuse,  except  sickness,  detained  him 
from  attending  his  church,  on  the  Sabbath;  and  his 
discourses  to  his  country  hearers  were  full  of  practical 
instructions.  On  the  Lord's  day,  he  preached  morning 
and  evening,  and  often  remained  in  the  church  the 
whole  day;  but  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  he  scru- 
pulously abstained  from  all  food,  until  the  evening 
service  had  been  completed,  that  he  might  be  the 
more  intent  on  his  sacred  duties,  and  preserve  him- 
self from  becoming  dull  or  drowsy.  The  Dissenters 
who  lived  in  the  bounds  of  his  parish,  were  in  the 
habit  of  attending  his  ministry,  as  thinking  that  he 
was  not  much  of  an  Episcopalian;  and  indeed  he  was 
far  from  being  rigid  in  his  adherence  to  the  rubric  of 
the  church;  seldom  wearing  a  surplice,  or  reading  all 
the  prayers.  Though  his  parish  was  scattered,  he 
never  failed  to  visit  the  sick;  and  often,  Mr.  Strype 
says,  his  own  house  was  like  an  hospital;  for  he 
would  bring  the  friendless  poor  there  to  be  taken  care 
of  in  their  sickness.  His  private  charities  must  have 
been  great,  for  his  income  was  considerable,  and  he 
expended  little  on  his  family,  and  laid  nothing  up. 

Towards  other  literary  men,  he  felt  no  envy  nor 
jealousy,  but  was  ever  ready  to  give  them  any  assist- 
ance which  they  requested.  His  aid  to  bishop  Walton, 
in  preparing  the  London  Polyglot,  was  most  impor- 


332  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

tant.  He  revised  the  whole  of  the  Samaritan  Penta- 
teuch, and  drew  up  for  the  work,  "a  sketch  of  sacred 
geography,"  in  which  he  corrected  many  errata^  in 
the  Hebrew  text.  These  services  the  bishop  grate- 
fully acknowledges  in  his  letters.  Dr.  Lightfoot  was 
deeply  interested  in  the  progress  of  this  great  and 
stupendous  work.  In  a  speech  which,  as  vice-chan- 
cellor, he  delivered,  he  congratulates  the  University 
upon  the  completion  of  an  undertaking,  reflecting  so 
much  honour  on  the  English  nation,  and  so  materi- 
ally contributing  to  the  advancement  of  sacred  litera- 
ture. 

It  appears  also,  that  Dr.  Lightfoot  contributed  his 
learned  aid,  to  the  ^'  Synopsis  Criticorum."  Pool 
acknowledges  this,  in  his  letters  addressed  to  him, 
and  warmly  thanks  him  for  his  kind  assistance,  espe- 
cially in  preparing  the  historical  books  of  the  Old 
Testament. 

In  like  manner,  valuable  assistance  was  afl?"orded  to 
Dr.  Custell,  in  the  preparation  of  his  Heptaglot  Lex- 
icon; and  he,  also,  by  his  sympathy  and  friendship, 
comforted  the  heart  of  that  learned  man,  broken  with 
sorrow,  on  account  of  the  utter  ruin  of  his  affairs,  in 
consequence  of  this  expensive  undertaking. 

These  are  but  a  specimen  of  the  aid  rendered  to 
learned  men,  of  his  day,  in  preparing  their  works  for 
the  press. 

That  the  learning  of  Dr.  Lightfoot  was  profound 
and  extensive,  is  a  thing  so  fully  established  by  his 
writings,  and  so  well  known  through  the  Christian 
world,  that  it  would  be  superfluous  to  say  any  thing 
on  the  subject.  In  all  departments  of  Biblical  learn- 
ing, he  was  richly  furnished;  but  in  Hebrew  and  rab- 
binical learning,  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  had  a  supe- 
rior in  the  world. 

His  sermons  are  not  elegant  and  polished  in  style, 
but  they  are  rich  in  matter,  and  always  suited  to  his 
audience,  and  calculated  to  be  useful.  In  the  Univer- 
sity, his  discourses,  replete  with  erudition,  commanded 
great  attention,  and  produced  much  good.  In  the 
country,  his  sermons  were  instructive  and  practical, 


MESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  333 

suited  to  the  capacities  of  plain  Christians.  Ahhoiigh 
he  was  careless  about  a  polished  style,  yet  in  his  dis- 
courses, there  are  many  Scriptural  allusions  of  much 
ingenuity  and  beauty. 

Animation  is  not  the  usual  characteristic  of  his  ser- 
mons; but  in  the  funeral  sermon  of  Sir  Rowland 
Cotton,  his  patron  and  beloved  friend,  he  gives  indul- 
gence to  his  feelings  in  the  following  pathetic  strain: 
''My  Sir  Rowland  CoUon,  i/oiirs,  the  country's,  nay 
Christ's,  hath  forsaken  us,  to  go  to  Him,  whose  he 
wholly  was,  0  that  my  head  were  waters,  or  rather 
words,  for  only  that  manner  of  mourning — and  my 
tongue  a  fountain  of  tears — for  only  that  instrument 
of  weeping  is  allowed  me  now — that  I  might  weep 
day  and  night,  not  for  him  that  is  gone,  for  he  is  gone 
where  he  always  was,  and  where  he  would  be,  but 
for  myself,  for  you,  for  the  country.  It  is  not  for  my 
ambition,  but  for  my  sorrow,  that  I  claim  the  first 
place,  and  to  be  first  served,  in  this  heavy  dole  of 
lamentation — for  I  have  lost,  I  cannot  tell  you  what — 
my  noble  patron — my  best  friend— my  father — my — 
myself  I  should  lose,  if  I  should  but  begin  to  tell  what 
he  was  to  me. — Why  should  I  speak  more?  For 
should  I  speak  myself  away,  I  could  never  speak 
enough!  Omyfather!  myfather!  the  chariot  of  my 
Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof — thy  love  to  me  was 
wonderful — passing  the  love  of  woman.  0  ye,  that 
sit  by,  behold  and  see  is  it  nothing  to  you.  Behold 
and  see  if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  unto  my  sorrow, 
which  is  done  unto  me  in  the  day  of  His  fierce  anger! 
He  it  was,  that  first  laid  the  foundation  of  my  poor 
studies,  and  always  watered  them  with  his  discourse 
and  encouragement;  and  now  the  Lord  hath  taken 
my  master  from  my  head.  He  it  was,  under  whose 
branches  I  sheltered,  when  my  storm  was  up;  and 
now  my  tree  of  defence  is  cut  down.  He  it  was  that 
was  my  oracle,  both  for  things  of  this  life,  and  of  a 
better;  and  now  my  prophet  is  no  more.  He  it  was 
that  was  all  things  to  me,  that  man  could  bej  but  now 
can  be  nothing  to  me,  but  sorrow,  &c." 


334  BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  writings  of  Dr.  Light- 
foot,  which  have  been  published: 

1.  Erubhim;  or  Miscellanies  Judaical  and  Chris- 
tian, &c. 

2.  Observations  on  the  Book  of  Genesis. 

3.  Elias  Kedivivus.     A  Fast  sermon  before  the 
House  of  Commons. 

4.  A  Handful  of  Gleanings,  out  of  the  Book  of 
Exodus. 

5.  The  Harmony  of  the  Four  Evangelists. 

6.  A  Fast  Sermon,  on  Rev.  xx.  1,  2;  before  the 
House  of  Commons. 

7.  A  Commentary  on  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 

8.  A  Fast  Sermon,  before  the  House  of  Commons, 
on  Psal.  iv.  4. 

9.  A  Chronicle  of  the  Times,  and  the  Order  of  the 
Texts  in  the  Old  Testament. 

10.  The  Temple  Service,  in  the  Time  of  our  Saviour. 

11.  The  Temple,  as  it  stood  in  the  Time  of  our 
Saviour. 

12.  The  Harmony,  Order,  and  Chronicle,  of  the 
New  Testament. 

13.  Animadversiones  in  Tabulas  Chronographicas 
Terree  Sanctse. 

14.  CoUatio  HsebraiciPentateuchicumSamaratico. 

15.  Horae  Hebraicae  et  Talmudicae.  1.  In  Choro- 
graphiam  aliquam  Terrae  Israeliticae. 

16.  Horae  Hebraicae  et  Talmudicae,  Impensae  in 
Evangelium  St.  Marci,  &c. 

17.  Horae  Hebraicae  et  Talmudicae,  in  Epistolam 
Primam  St.  Pauli  ad  Corinthios,  &c. 

18.  Horae  Hebraicae  et  Talmudicae,  Impensae,  in 
Evangelium  St.  Johannis. 

19.  Horae  Hebraicae  et  Talmudicae  Impensae,  in 
Evangelium  St.  Lucae. 

20.  Horae  Hebraicae  et  Talmudicae  Impensae  in 
Acta  Apostolorum. 

The  whole  works  of  Dr.  Lightfoot  were  published 
in  two  folio  volumes,  by  the  Rev.  George  Bright,  and 
the  Rev.  John  Strype,  London,  1684. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


335 


Another  edition  was  published  at  Rotterdam  by 
Texelius,  1686. 

A  third  edition  was  published,  in  three  volumes 
folio,  at  Franequer,  1699. 

The  demand  for  Lightfoot's  learned  lucubrations, 
was  even  greater  on  the  Continent  of  Europe,  than 
at  home. 

The  latest  edition  of  his  works,  in  thirteen  octavo 
volumes,  was  published  by  the  Rev.  John  Rogers 
Pitman,  A.  M.,  London,  1822 — 5. 

[The  preceding  account  of  Dr.  Lightfoot  and  his 
works,  has  been  extracted  from  the  Preface  to  the 
octavo  edition  just  mentioned.] 

Love,  Christopher,  was  born  at  Cardiff,  in  Gla- 
morganshire, in  the  year  1618,  and  was  educated  at 
New  Inn  Hall,  Oxford.  From  a  child  he  was  re- 
markably fond  of  books,  and  although  much  indulged 
by  his  parents,  he  never  neglected  his  beloved  studies. 
He  was  fifteen  years  of  age  before  he  ever  heard  a  ser- 
mon; but  about  this  time,  going  to  hear  a  preacher 
by  the  name  of  Erberly,  God  was  pleased  to  meet 
with  him,  and  by  that  first  sermon,  gave  him  such  a 
sight  of  his  sins  and  his  undone  condition,  that  he 
returned  home,  as  he  expressed  it,  with  a  hell  in  his 
conscience.  His  father,  observing  the  sudden  and 
remarkable  change  in  his  son,  was  apprehensive  that 
he  was  sinking  into  a  state  of  melancholy,  and  en- 
deavoured to  persuade  him  to  seek  relief  from  low 
spirits  in  company  and  amusements;  but  the  very 
thought  of  these  things  was  now  painful  to  him.  The 
young  man  wished  for  nothing  so  much  as  liberty  to 
go  to  church,  but  this  his  father  positively  prohibited, 
as  thinking  that  it  would  increase  his  melancholy. 
To  prevent  his  attendance  he  locked  him  in  an  upper 
chamber,  but  such  was  the  ardour  of  his  desire  to 
hear  the  word,  that  he  found  means  to  escape  from 
the  room  where  he  was  confined,  by  tying  a  cord  to 
the  window,  and  by  it  sliding  down  the  side  of  the 
house.  He  immediately  proceeded  to  the  church, 
where  he  heard  a  discourse  which  had  the  effect  of 


336 


BlOGRAnilCAL    SKETCHES. 


deepening  his  convictions,  which,  as  is  believed,  soon 
terminated  in  a  sound  conversion  to  God.  His  father 
was  much  displeased  with  him,  and  he  had  not  a 
friend  upon  earth,  who  afforded  him  the  least  help  or 
encouragement.  He  found  opportunity,  however,  of 
making  known  his  case  to  Mr.  Erberly,  the  minister 
who  had  been  the  means  of  his  awakening,  from 
whom  he  received  such  advice  as  was  suited  to  his 
case.  But  he  enjoyed  no  comfort  in  religion  for  a 
considerable  time.  Mr.  Erberly,  finding  that  the 
father's  affection  was  alienated  from  his  son,  went  to 
him,  and  requested  that  the  young  man  might  be  per- 
mitted to  come  and  reside  at  his  house;  promising  to 
pay  attention  to  his  learning.  To  this  proposal  the 
father  consented,  and  young  Christopher  found  a  resi- 
dence at  once  agreeable  and  profitable.  But  his 
father  wishing  to  put  him  an  apprentice  in  London, 
had  proceeded  so  far  as  to  make  an  arrangement  with 
a  person  to  take  him.  The  mind  of  the  young  man, 
however,  was  found  to  be  exceedingly  averse  to  this 
kind  of  life,  and  he  earnestly  besought  his  father  to 
send  him  to  Oxford;  and  in  this  request  he  was  aided 
and  supported  by  his  mother,  and  Mr.  Erberly.  The 
father  finally  gave  his  consent,  but  rather  in  displea- 
sure than  kindness,  for  he  refused  to  supply  him  with 
the  money  necessary  for  his  support.  He  went,  how- 
ever, and  struggled  with  many  difficulties;  yet  by 
means  of  aid  received  from  his  mother  and  Mr.  Er- 
berly, he  was  enabled  to  pursue  his  studies.  Being 
totally  ignorant  of  every  body  in  the  University,  he 
was  led  to  apply  to  Mr.  Rogers  to  be  his  tutor,  from  the 
circumstance  of  hearing  him  abused  for  a  puritan,  by 
some  of  the  students  with  whom  he  met. 

While  at  the  University,  Mr.  Love  was  obhged  to 
be  frugal  in  his  expenses;  but  he  was  assiduous  in 
his  studies.  He  associated  with  such  religious  per- 
sons as  he  could  find,  but  it  was  long  before  he  en- 
joyed any  settled  peace  of  mind;  in  fact,  he  lived  in 
continual  fear  of  death  and  eternal  misery.  His 
conflicts  and  heart  troubles  were  great  and  almost 
overwhelming;  but  God  secretly  sustained  him,  by 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  337 

affording  him  now  and  then  gHmpses  of  his  favour. 
By  his  fellow  students  he  was  considered  a  melan- 
choly person,  and  he  found  few  friends  to  whom  he 
could  unbosom  himself.  After  leaving  the  Univer- 
sity, he  was  licensed  to  preach,  but  was  soon  exposed 
to  persecution  for  his  non-conformity.  As  a  preacher 
he  was  both  popular  and  useful.  He  had  been  desi- 
rous of  receiving  ordination  in  Scotland,  and  went 
there  for  that  purpose,  but  met  with  a  disappoint- 
ment; for  the  Scottish  church  had  come  to  a  resolution 
to  ordain  none  but  such  as  intended  to  settle  in  their 
own  borders.  His  dislike  to  the  liturgy  was  so  great, 
that  he  could  not  refrain  from  publicly  preaching 
against  it;  upon  which  he  was  arrested  and  thrown 
into  prison — a  most  filthy  place — where  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  thieves  and  murderers.  During  his  con- 
finement, he  preached  through  the  grates  of  his  prison 
to  the  people  without,  and  not  without  good  effect. 
The  place  of  his  confinement  was  Newcastle.  After 
some  time  he  was  removed  to  London,  to  undergo 
his  trial  in  the  court  of  King's  Bench,  where  he  was 
acquitted. 

During  the  civil  wars,  Mr.  Love  was  chosen  chap- 
lain to  the  garrison  at  Windsor,  then  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  John  Venn;  and  his  ministry  was  not 
here  without  seals.  When  London  was  ravaged  by 
the  plague,  Mr.  Love  did  not  leave  the  city,  but  re- 
mained and  administered  to  the  comfort  of  the  sick, 
never  refusing  to  expose  himself  to  danger  where 
there  was  any  hope  of  doing  good. 

Upon  the  establishment  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
government,  by  Parliament,  Mr.  Love  received  ordi- 
nation, in  conformity  with  the  Directory,  composed 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster, 
January  3, 1644.  The  Presbyters  who  laid  hands  on 
him,  in  this  solemn  service,  were  Messrs.  Horton, 
Bellers,  and  Roberts;  and  thus  with  prayer  and  fast- 
ing he  was  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God,  in  the 
ministry  of  the  gospel. 

In  1645,  he  was  called  to  preach  before  the  com- 
missioners at  Uxbridge.     In  his  sermon  he  inveighed 

22 


338  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

with  great  severity  against  the  king's  commissioners, 
who  complained  of  him  to  Parliament,  upon  which 
he  was  sent  to  London,  and  underwent  an  examina- 
tion, but  was  acquitted  by  the  House  of  Commons. 

When  the  Parliament  convened  the  Assembly  of 
Divines,  he  was  not  yet  ordained,  but  soon  after  this 
event,  he  was  added  to  those  originally  appointed,  as 
were  many  others.  When  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  London,  he  was  called  to  become  the  minister  of 
St.  Lawrence,  Jewry,  London.  When  the  London 
ministers  drew  up  a  remonstrance  against  putting  the 
king  to  death,  Mr.  Love  united  with  them.  But  he 
was  afterwards  involved  in  a  conspiracy  which  cost 
him  his  life.  The  principal  persons  concerned  in  this 
atfair,  were  some  disbanded  officers  who  had  served 
in  the  Parliament's  armies.  They  held  a  secret  cor- 
respondence with  the  king,  who  requested  them  to 
send  commissioners  to  Breda,  with  whom  he  might 
treat.  Of  those  engaged  in  this  conspiracy,  some 
were  pardoned,  but  Mr.  Love  and  some  others,  were 
capitally  punished,  as  a  public  example.  His  trial 
lasted  six  days,  when  he  defended  himself  with  great 
boldness  and  freedom,  but  was  found  guilty  of  hold- 
ing a  crmiinal  correspondence  with  the  enemies  of  the 
commonwealth — that  is,  with  the  king.  When  he 
was  condemned,  he  petitioned  with  great  earnestness, 
that  his  life  might  be  spared.  He  confessed  his  crime, 
but  said  that  he  had  fallen  into  it  through  ignorance, 
and  inadvertence.  Much  intercession  was  made  in 
his  behalf,  but  it  all  proved  ineffectual.  The  day 
before  his  execution,  he  received  an  excellent  and 
consolatory  letter  from  his  wife,  to  which  he  returned 
a  pious  and  affectionate  answer,  replete  with  good 
advice.  This  letter  was  dated  from  the  Tower,  where 
he  was  confined,  August  21,  1651 — "The  day  of  my 
glorification."  On  that  very  day,  at  two  o'clock  P. 
M.,  he  ascended  the  scaffold  with  great  intrepidity. 
He  was  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Simeon 
Ashe,  Edmund  Calamy,  and  Dr.  Manton.  As  soon 
as  Mr.  Love  had  taken  his  place  on  the  scaffold,  he 
addressed  the  assembled  multitude  in  a  long  speech; 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  339 

after  which  he  offered  up  a  fervent  prayer.  He  then 
called  for  the  executioner,  and  when  he  made  his  ap- 
pearance, Mr.  Love  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  heaven  and 
said,  "  0  blessed  Jesus,  who  hast  kept  me  from  the 
hurt  of  death,  and  from  the  fear  of  death!  0  blessed 
be  God,  blessed  be  God!"  Then  taking  leave  of  the 
ministers  and  of  his  other  friends,  he  said,  "  The  Lord 
be  with  you  all.'^  He  then  kneeled  down  and  made 
a  short  prayer,  when  rising  up  he  said,  "  I  am  full  of 
peace  and  joy  in  believing.  I  lie  down  with  a  world 
of  comfort,  as  if  I  were  to  lie  down  in  my  bed.  I 
shall  rest  in  Abraham's  bosom,  and  in  the  embraces 
of  the  Lord  Jesus."  As  he  was  preparing  to  lay  his 
head  on  the  block,  Mr.  Ashe  asked  him,  "  Dear  bro- 
ther, how  dost  thou  find  thy  heart?"  To  which  Mr.. 
Love  replied,  "I  bless  God,  I  am  as  full  of  love  and 
joy,  as  ever  my  heart  can  hold — blessed  be  God  for 
Jesus  Christ."  He  then  laid  his  head  upon  the  block, 
which  the  executioner  severed  from  his  body  at  a 
single  blow.  His  remains  were  carried  to  their  place 
of  rest  by  his  friends  and  parishioners  of  St.  Law- 
rence, Jewry,  with  great  lamentation.  Mr.  Love 
was  a  zealous  Presbyterian,  a  most  popular  preacher,- 
and  a  man  greatly  beloved  by  his  brethren.  His 
memory,  however,  has  been  loaded  with  reproaches 
by  the  historians  of  the  high  church  party,  and  by 
none  more  than  Lord  Clarendon.  This  seems  the 
more  strange,  since  he  died  for  conspiring  to-  place 
the  king  on  his  throne.  The  testimony  of  Calamy  is,, 
"that  he  died  neither  timorously  nor  proudly,  but 
with  great  alacrity  and  cheerfulness,  as  if  he  had 
been  going  to  bed."  Dr.  Manton,  who  was  also  with 
him  on  the  scaffold,  and  knew  him  much  better  than 
his  calumniators,  says,  "  that  he  was  a  man  eminent 
in  grace,  of  a  singular  life  and  conversation,  and  a 
pattern  of  piety  most  worthy  of  imitation."  Another 
writer,  who  knew  him  well,  says,  ''  In  all  his  rela- 
tions, as  a  minister,  a  Christian,  a  subject,  a  husband, 
a  friend,  and  a  father,  he  served  his  generation  on  the 
earth,  and  made  a  swift  progress  on  his  way  to  hea^ 
ven;  he  lived  too  much  for  heaven  to  live  long  out  of 


340 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


heaven ;  and  snre  I  am  that  he  lived  the  life  of  heaven 
upon  earth.  His  fellowship  was  with  the  Father  and 
with  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ." 

In  the  defence  which  Mr.  Love  made  before  the 
court  which  condemned  him,  he  says,  ''  I  have  been 
called  an  apostate  and  a  malignant,  but  God  is  my 
witness,  I  never  carried  on  a  malignant  interest.  I  shall 
retain  my  covenanting  principles,  from  which,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  I  will  never  depart;  neither  am  I  an 
incendiary,  between  England  and  Scotland,  but  I  am 
grieved  for  their  divisions;  and  if  I  had  as  much 
blood  in  my  veins  as  there  is  water  in  the  sea,  I  could 
'Count  it  well  spent,  to  quench  the  fire  that  our  sins 
have  kindled  between  them.  I  have  all  along  en- 
gaged my  life  and  estate  in  the  Parliament's  quarrel 
against  the  forces  raised  by  the  late  king,  not  from 
prospect  of  advantage,  but  from  conscience  and  duty; 
and  I  am  so  far  from  repenting,  that  were  it  to  do 
again,  upon  the  same  unquestionable  authority,  and 
for  the  same  declared  ends,  I  should  as  readily  en- 
gage in  it  as  ever;  though  I  wish  from  my  soul  that 
the  ends  of  that  just  war  had  been  better  accom- 
plished. Nor  have  my  sufferings  in  this  cause  been 
inconsiderable.  When  I  was  a  scholar  in  Oxford,  I 
was  the  first  to  refuse  to  subscribe  the  canons  imposed 
by  the  late  archbishop,  for  which  I  was  expelled  the 
convocation-house.  When  I  came  first  to  London, 
twelve  years  ago,  I  was  opposed  by  the  bishop  of 
London,  and  it  was  three  years  before  I  could  obtain 
so  much  as  a  lecture.  I  was  im.prisoned  in  New- 
castle, for  preaching  against  the  service-book;  when 
I  was  removed  to  this  place  by  a  writ  of  habeas  cor- 
pus and  acquitted.  In  the  beginning  of  the  war  be- 
tween the  king  and  Parliament,  I  was  accused  of 
preaching  treason  and  rebellion,  merely  because  I 
maintained  the  lawfulness  of  defensive  war.  I  was 
again  complained  of  for  a  sermon  preached  at  Ux- 
bridge,  which  I  hear  is  lately  re-printed;  and  if  it  be 
printed  according  to  the  first  copy,  I  will  own  every 
line  of  it.  After  all  this,  I  have  been  nine  times  in 
trouble,  since  the  last  change  of  government — and 


WESTMINSTER     ASSEMBLY.  341 

now,  last  of  all,  this  great  trial  is  come  upon  me.  1 
have  been  kept  several  weeks  in  a  close  prison,  and 
am  now  arraigned  for  my  life,  and  like  to  suifer  from 
the  hands  of  those  for  whom  I  have  done  and  suf- 
fered so  much,  and  who  have  lifted  up  their  hands 
with  me  in  the  same  covenant;  and  yet  I  am  not 
conscious  of  any  personal  act  proved  against  me,  that 
brings  me  within  any  of  your  laws  which  relates  to 
treason. 

"Upon  the  whole,  though  I  never  sent  letters  into 
Scotland,  yet  I  confess  their  proceedings  with  the 
king  are  agreeable  to  my  judgment,  and  for  the  good 
of  the  nation;  and  though  I  disown  the  commission 
and  conspiracy,  mentioned  in  the  indictment,  yet  1 
have  desired  an  agreement  between  the  king  and 
the  Scots  agreeably  to  the  covenant;  for  they  having 
declared  him  to  be  their  king,  I  have  desired  and 
prayed,  as  a  private  man,  that  they  might  accomplish 
their  ends,  upon  such  terms  as  were  consistent  with 
the  safety  of  religion  and  the  covenant." 

He  concluded  his  defence,  by  beseeching  the  court 
not  to  put  him  to  death  for  reasons  of  state.  He 
owned  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  a  concealment,  for 
which  he  begged  the  mercy  of  the  court,  promising 
for  the  future  to  lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life.  He 
put  them  in  mind  that  when  Abiathar  the  priest,  had 
done  an  unjustifiable  action,  king  Solomon  said,  that 
he  would  not  put  him  to  death  at  that  time,  because 
he  bore  the  ark  of  the  Lord  before  David  his  father, 
and  because  he  had  been  afflicted  in  all  wherein  his 
father  had  been  afflicted.  "  Thus,"  said  he,  "  I  com- 
mit myself  and  my  all  to  God,  and  to  your  judgments 
and  consciences,  with  the  words  of  Jeremiah  to  the 
rulers  of  Israel — '  As  for  me,  behold  I  am  in  your 
hands,  do  with  me  as  seemeth  meet  and  good  to  you; 
but  know  ye  for  certain,  that  if  ye  put  me  to  death, 
ye  shall  surely  bring  innocent  blood  upon  yourselves.' 
But  I  hope  better  things  of  you  though  I  thus  speak." 

Great  intercessions  were  made  for  the  life  of  this 
reverend  person  by  the  chief  of  the  Presbyterian 
party,  in  the  city  of  London.     His  wife  presented 


342 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


several  moving  petitions,  and  begged  that  if  he  could 
not  be  pardoned,  the  sentence  miglit  be  changed  into 
banishment.  He  finally  disclosed  every  thing  which 
he  knew  respecting  the  plot,  which  amounted  nearly 
to  all  with  which  he  was  charged.  But  all  would  not 
do.  The  affairs  of  the  commonwealth  were  at  a  crisis. 
The  king  had  entered  England  at  the  head  of  sixteen 
thousand  Scots,  and  it  was  thougiit  necessary  to  strike 
terror  into  the  Presbyterian  party,  by  making  an  ex- 
ample of  one  of  their  favourite  clergymen.  Mr. 
Wliitlock  says,  ''  that  Colonel  Fortescue  was  sent  to 
General  Cromwell  with  a  petition  on  behalf  of  Mr. 
Love;  but  that  the  General,  and  other  officers,  de- 
clined meddling  in  the  affair."  Bishop  Kennert  and 
Mr.  Eackard  say,  the  general  sent  word  m  a  private 
letter  to  one  of  his  confidants,  that  he  was  content 
that  Mr.  Love  should  be  reprieved  upon  his  giving 
security  for  his  future  good  behaviour;  but  the  post- 
boy being  stopped  on  the  road,  by  some  cavaliers  be- 
longing to  the  king's  army,  they  searched  his  pocket, 
and  finding  a  reprieve  for  Mr.  Love,  tore  it  with 
indignation,  as  thinking  that  he  who  was  such  a  fire- 
brand at  Uxbridge,  ought  not  to  live.  If  this  be  true, 
Mr.  Love  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  ungovernable  rage  of 
the  cavaliers.  i 

In  his  speech  on  the  scafl'old  he  said,  "  I  am  for  a 
regulated,  mixed  monarchy,  which  I  judge  to  be  one 
of  the  best  governments  in  the  world.  I  opposed,  in 
my  place,  the  forces  of  the  late  king,  because  I  am 
against  screwing  monarchy  up  into  tyranny,  as  much 
as  against  those  who  would  pull  it  down  into  anarchy. 
I  was  never  for  putting  the  king  to  death,  whose  per- 
son 1  did  promise  in  the  covenant  to  preserve,  and  I 
judge  it  an  ill  way  of  serving  the  body  politic,  by 
cutting  off  the  political  head.  I  die  with  my  judg- 
ment against  the  engagement.  I  pray  God  to  foigive 
them  that  impose  it,  and  them  that  take  it,  and  pre- 
serve them  that  refuse  it.  Neither  would  I  be  looked 
upon  as  owning  this  present  government — I  die  with 
my  judgment  against  it.  Lastly,  I  die  cleaving  to  all 
those  oaths,  vow^s,  covenants,  and  protestations  that 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  343 

were  imposed  by  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament.  I 
bless  God  I  have  not  the  least  trouble  on  my  spirit, 
but  I  die  with  as  much  quietness  of  mind  as  if  I  was 
going  to  lie  down  upon  my  bed  to  rest.  I  see  men 
thirst  after  my  blood,  which  will  but  hasten  my  happi- 
ness, and  their  ruin;  for  though  I  am  but  of  mean 
parentage,  my  blood  is  the  blood  of  a  Christian — a 
minister,  and  of  an  innocent  man — a  martyr.^' 

De  La  March,  John,  was  a  minister  of  the  French 
church  in  London,  and  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster. 

He  published  a  treatise  on  Rev.  xviii.  17,  entitled, 
"  A  Complaint  of  the  False  Prophet's  Mariners,  upon 
the  drying  up  of  their  Hierarchical  Euphrates." 

Marshall,  Stephen,  B.  D.,was  born  in  Hunting- 
donshire, in  England;  and  was  educated  in  Emman- 
uel College,  Cambridge.  He  was  early  settled  in  the 
ministry  at  Weathersfield,  in  Essex;  and  afterwards 
at  Finc'hingfield,  in  the  same  county.  Mr.  Marshall 
seems  to  have  been  in  great  esteem  v/ith  the  long 
Parliament,  who  consulted  him  in  all  cases  where 
religion  was  concerned.  According  to  Fuller,  "  He 
was  their  trumpet  for  proclaiming  their  fasts,  and 
preached  more  sermons  before  them,  than  any  four 
of  his  function.  In  their  sickness,  he  was  their  con- 
fessor; in  their  assembly,  their  counsellor;  in  their 
treaties,  their  chaplain ;  and  in  their  disputations,  their 
champion."  And  Clarendon  says,  ^'Doubtless,  the 
archbishop  of  Canterbury  never  had  as  much  influ- 
ence at  court,  as  Mr.  Marshall  and  Dr.  Burgess  with 
this  Parliament."  These  two  ministers  officiated  in 
St  Margaret's  Church,  on  November  17, 1640,  which 
day  was  observed  as  a  solemn  fast  by  the  House  of 
Commons;  on  which  occasion,  it  is  said,  they  prayed 
and  preached  at  least  seven  hours.  At  the  close  of 
the  service,  both  of  them  received  a  vote  of  thanks 
for  his  services;  and  afterwards  a  gratuity  of  a  piece 
of  plate. 

Mr.  Marshall  has  been  much  calumniated  in  Cla- 


344 


BIOGEAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


rendon's  history  of  the  rebellion;  and  some  very  dis- 
honourable things  are  laid  to  his  charge;  but  they 
have  been  shown  to  be  false,  by  Dr.  Calamy  and 
others. 

He  did  exert  himself  to  convince  the  people  that  it 
was  their  duty  to  take  up  arms  in  defence  of  their 
constitution  and  liberties. 

Mr.  Marshall  took  an  active  part  in  the  controversy 
respecting  church  government;  and  was  one  of  the 
writers  of  Smectymninis.  In  the  civil  war,  he  was 
appointed  chaplain  to  the  earl  of  Essex's  regiment,  in 
the  Parliament's  army. 

In  1643,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster;  and  few,  if  any,  exceeded 
him  in  activity  and  influence.  He  was  one  of  the 
commissioners  sent  to  Scotland  to  solicit  the  aid  of 
that  country  for  the  Parliament;  and  to  request  that 
commissioners  might  be  sent  to  the  Westminster  As- 
sembly. They  were  cordially  received  by  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  of  the  church  of  Scotland;  and  after 
consultation  with  them,  that  assembly  prepared  a 
league  and  covenant,  intended  to  bind  the  two  nations 
in  perpetual  alliance.  This  received  the  unanimous 
approbation  of  the  Assembly,  and  was  transmitted  to 
Parliament  for  their  approbation.  They  also  ap- 
pointed commissioners  to  attend  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster. 

In  the  year  1644,  Mr.  Marshall  attended  the  com- 
missioners of  Parliament,  at  the  treaty  of  Uxbridge. 
In  1645,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  committee  of 
accommodation,  to  secure  the  peace  of  the  church, 
and  to  consult  for  the  harmony  of  all  parties.  In 
1646,  he  accompanied  the  commissioners,  who  went 
to  treat  with  the  king  at  Newcastle;  and  in  1647,  on 
the  same  business,  at  the  Isle  of  Wight;  where  he 
manifested  great  abilities  in  the  conferences  in  which 
he  was  engaged.  He  was  also  one  of  the  committee 
appointed  to  draw  up  and  present  to  Parliament,  a 
list  of  fundamental  articles  of  religion.  Mr.  Marshall 
was  a  very  useful  as  well  as  popular  preacher.  In 
his  view  of  church  government,  he  lived  and  died  a 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


345 


Presbyterian;  though  he  has  by  some  writers  been 
styled,  "  a  notorious  Independent."  When  he  retired 
from  London,  he  spent  the  last  two  years  of  his  life  at 
Ipswich;  and  Giles  Firmin,  who  knew  him  well, 
says,  '^He  left  behind  him  few  labourers  like  him- 
self;— that  he  was  a  Christian  in  practice,  as  well  as 
profession; — that  he  lived  by  faith,  and  died  by  faith, 
and  was  an  example  to  the  believers  in  word,  in  con- 
versation, in  charity,  in  faith,  and  in  purity."  And 
when  on  his  dead-bed,  he  said,  ^'  I  cannot  say,  as 
some  have  done,  that  I  have  so  lived  as  not  to  be 
afraid  to  die ;  but  I  can  say,  I  have  so  « learned  Christ,' 
that  I  am  not  afraid  to  die."  He  died  in  September, 
1655,  and  his  remains  were  interred  with  great  so- 
lemnity in  Westminster  Abbey;  but  were  dug  up  at 
the  restoration. 

Mr.  Marshall,  though  an  active,  zealous,  and  de- 
cided man,  was  nevertheless  moderate  in  his  princi- 
ples; so  that  Richard  Baxter  gave  him  the  character 
of  being  "a  worthy  and  sober  man,"  and  said,  "If 
all  the  bishops  had  been  of  the  same  spirit  as  arch- 
bishop Usher,  all  the  Independents  like  Jeremiah 
Burroughs,  and  all  the  Presbyterians  like  Stephen 
Marshall,  the  divisions  of  the  church  would  soon 
have  been  healed." 

His  published  writings  are  the  following: 

1.  A  Fast  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons, 
November  17,  1640. 

2.  A  Peace-offering  to  God,  a  Thanksgiving  Ser- 
mon before  the  House  of  Commons. 

3.  Meroz  Cursed,  a  Fast  Sermon  before  the  House 
of  Commons. 

4.  Reformation  and  Desolation,  a  Fast  Sermon  be- 
fore the  House  of  Commons. 

5.  The  Song  of  Moses  and  the  Song  of  the  Lamb,  a 
Thanksgiving  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons. 

6.  A  Letter  to  a  Friend,  in  vindication  of  himself. 

7.  The  Church's  Lamentation  for  the  Good  Man's 
Loss. 

8.  A  Sacred  Panegyric,  a  Thanksgiving  Sermon 
before  the  two  Houses. 


346 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


9.  A  Divine  Project,  to  Save  a  Kingdom. 

10.  A  Sermon  on  Infant  Baptism. 

11.  God's  Master-piece — before  the  House  of  Par- 
liament. 

12.  The  Strong  Helper,  a  Fast  Sermon  before  the 
House  of  Commons. 

13.  A  Sacred  Record  of  God's  Mercies  to  Zion,  a 
Thanksgiving  Sermon. 

14.  A  Defence  of  Infant  Baptism,  in  answer  to 
Tombes. 

15.  A  Two-edged  Sword,  out  of  the  Mouth  of 
Babes. 

16.  The  Right  Understanding  of  the  Times. 

17.  A  Thanksgiving  Sermon  from  Joshua  xxii.  23, 
to  both  Houses. 

18.  A  Sermon  before  the  Lord  Mayor  and  City 
Council,  April,  1652. 

19.  The  Power  of  the  Civil  Magistrate  in  Religion, 
Vindicated. 

20.  Sermons  on  Isaiah  viii.  9 — Zechariah  vii.  12 — 
Matthew  xi.  12. 

Maynard,  John,  was  born  in  Sussex,  England, 
and  became  a  commoner  in  Queen's  College,  Oxford, 
in  1616.  After  taking  his  first  degree,  he  translated 
himself  to  Magdalen-Hall,  in  the  same  University. 
He  entered  the  ministry,  after  taking  his  Master's 
degree,  and  was  settled  at  Mayfield,  in  the  county  of 
his  nativity. 

When  the  civil  war  broke  out,  Mr.  Maynard  openly 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  Parliament,  and  was  ap- 
pointed a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines.  He 
sometimes  preached  before  the  Parliament,  and  was 
an  assistant  to  the  commissioners  for  the  ejectment  of 
ignorant  and  scandalous  ministers  and  schoolmasters 
in  Sussex. 

He  took  the  covenant,  and  was  a  thorough  Puritan. 
In  his  pastoral  labours,  he  had  for  an  assistant,  Mr. 
Ehas  Paul  D'Aranda,  who  was  so  generous  as  to  re- 
linquish to  him  all  the  tithes  of  the  parish,  retaining 
for  himself  only  the  parsonage. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  347 

Mr.  Mayiiard  was  ejected  from  Mayfield  by  the 
Act  of  Uniformity;  but  continued  to  reside  in  the 
town,  where  he  was  generally  respected. 

He  was  a  considerable  benefactor  to  Magdalen- 
Hall,  where  he  received  a  part  of  his  education. 

Pie  died  June  7,  1665,  and  was  buried  in  the 
church-yard  of  JNIayfied,  where  a  tomb-stone  was 
erected,  with  an  inscription  highly  honourable  to  his 
memory.  There  it  is  said,  "that  he  was  endowed 
with  a  penetrating  genius,  and  well  skilled  in  history; 
a  divine  of  irreproachable  manners,  and  of  the  most 
venerable  gravity;  very  pious  and  learned,  and  a 
good  public  speaker.  He  shone,  during  the  space  of 
forty  years,  the  light  and  glory  of  his  flock,  at  May- 
field.  At  length,  weary  of  this  world,  ard  ripe  for 
heaven,  he  departed,  that  he  might  enjoy  Christ  for 
ever  and  ever." 

Mr.  Maynard's  writings  are, 

1.  A  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  Prov. 
xxiii.  23. 

2.  A  Shadow  of  the  Victory  of  Christ.  A  sermon 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  from  Phil.  iii.  21. 

3.  The  Young  Man's  Remembrancer  and  Old 
Man's  Monitor. 

4.  The  Law  of  God  Ratified  by  the  Gospel. 

5.  The  Beauty  and  Order  of  the  Creation,  in  Six 
Days. 

Mewe,  William,  B.  D.,  was  rector  of  Essington, 
in  the  county  of  Gloucester,  England.  He  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westmin- 
ster, and  is  marked  as  one  who  gave  constant  at- 
tendance. 

He  preached  a  sermon  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, from  Isaiah  xlii.  24,  25.  It  is  entitled,  "  The 
Robbing  and  Spoiling  of  Jacob  and  Israel."  To  this 
sermon  there  is  prefixed  an  "Epistle  to  the  House  of 
Commons." 

jNIicklethwait,  Thomas,  was  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  is  marked, 


348 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


in  JNeal's  list,  as  one  of  those  who  were  constant  in 
their  attendance.  He  was  minister  of  Cherryburton, 
in  Yorkshire,  from  which  he  was  cast  out  by  the 
Act  of  Uniformity,  in  1662. 

Dr.  Calamy  speaks  of  him  as  a  man  distinguished 
for  "piety,  gravity,  prudence,  and  learning.'^  He 
has  left  nothing  behind  him,  in  print. 

Newcomen.  Matthew,  A.  M.,  was  educated  at 
St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  and  was  eminently 
distinguished  for  his  wit  and  originality;  and  his 
genius  being  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God,  he 
was  eminently  usp.ful  in  the  church.  As  an  orator 
he  was  unrivalled  in  his  day;  for  he  delivered  his 
discourses  with  such  emphasis  and  gesture,  that  few 
persons  heard  him  without  trembling  at  the  word  of 
God.  He  was  therefore  one  of  the  most  awakening 
preachers  of  his  day;  and  his  power  over  his  hearers 
was  not  merely  the  effect  of  delivery,  but  his  dis- 
courses were  characterized  by  extraordinary  inge- 
nuity. Dr.  Collins  says,  "that  he  had  been  thirty 
years  acquainted  with  him,  and  that  he  never  knew 
any  man  who  excelled  him  as  a  minister  in  the  pul- 
pit, as  a  disputant  in  the  schools,  and  as  a  desirable 
companion.  His  gift  in  prayer  was  incomparable; 
and  his  preaching  was  solid,  pathetic,  and  persuasive." 

Mr.  Newcomen  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  and  a  constant  attendant. 
The  preparation  of  the  catechism  was  committed  to 
him,  with  Dr.  Tuckney  and  Dr.  Arrowsmith;  and 
how  well  they  executed  their  task  need  not  now  be 
said.  He  was  also  one  of  the  commissioners  at  the 
Savoy.  He  had  many  advantageous  offers  of  prefer- 
ment; but  refused  them  all,  and  continued  at  Dedham, 
until  he  was  ejected  by  the  act  of  uniformity,  in  1662. 
Soon  after  this,  he  was  chosen  pastor  of  the  English 
church,  at  Leyden,  in  Holland;  which  he  readily  ac- 
cepted, because  he  knew  that  there  he  should  enjoy 
liberty  in  the  exercise  of  his  ministry,  which  he  pre- 
ferred to  any  thing  in  the  world.  While  resident  near 
the  University  of  this  place,  so  famous  for  its  learned 


WESTMINSTER  ASSEMBLY.  349 

professors,  he  was  very  acceptable  to  Hornbeck  and 
the  other  learned  theologians  of  that  seminary.  But 
he  did  not  live  many  years  after  his  settlement  in 
Holland;  for  in  1668  or  1669,  he  was  seized  with  a 
fever,  which  carried  him  off  in  a  short  time. 

Mr.  Newcomen  was  a  most  accomplished  scholar, 
and  exemplary  Christian;  he  was  eminently  distin- 
guished by  his  universal  learning  and  piety,  and  by 
his  extraordinary  humility  and  pleasant  conversation. 
Mr.  Baxter,  in  his  own  life,  frequently  mentions  him 
with  great  respect,  as  one  of  the  principal  ministers  of 
his  time. 

Mr.  Newcomen's  writings  are, 

1.  A  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  No- 
vember 5,  1642. 

2.  A  Sermon  before  both  Houses  and  the  Assembly, 
July  7,  1643. 

3.  A  Sermon  before  both  Houses  of  Parliament, 
September  12,  1644. 

4.  The  All-seeing,  Unseen  Eye  of  God,  before  the 
Commons. 

5.  The  Duty  of  such  as  would  Walk  Worthy  of 
the  Gospel. 

6.  A  Sermon  at  the  Funeral  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Collins. 

7.  A  Farewell  Sermon  in  the  London  Collection. 

8.  Another  Sermon  in  the  Country  Collection. 

9.  The  Best  Acquaintance  and  Highest  Honour  of 
Christians. 

Nye,  Philip,  was  born  in  Sussex,  England,  in  the 
year  1596,  and  was  entered  a  commoner  in  Brazen- 
nose  College,  July  21, 1615.  But  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore he  removed  to  Magdalen-Hall,  where  he  fell  into 
the  hands  of  a  puritanical  tutor,  from  whom  he  imbibed 
his  religious  sentiments.  After  taking  orders,  he  offi- 
ciated for  a  while  at  St.  Michael's  Church,  Cornhill, 
London,  where  he  was  resident  in  1630.  Upon  the 
accession  of  Laud  to  the  see  of  Canterbury,  when 
many  godly  ministers  were  silenced  or  oppressed,  Mr. 
Nye  forsook  his  country  and  went  to  Holland.  About 


t.)D[)  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

the  beginning  of  the  Long  Parhament,  he  returned  to 
England,  and  by  the  favour  of  the  Earl  of  Manches- 
ter, he  was  made  minister  of  Kimbohon,  in  Hunting- 
donshire. In  1643,  he  was  called  up  to  sit  in  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  had  the 
rectory  of  Acton,  near  London,  assigned  him. 

Mr.  Nye  boldly  opposed  the  establishment  of  Pres- 
bytery, as  the  form  of  government  for  the  church.  His 
principal  argument,  according  to  Baillie,  was  drawn 
from  the  danger  of  such  an  ecclesiastical  government 
to  the  state.  He  was  for  making  many  changes  in  the 
order  and  form  of  worship;  as,  that  the  minister  in 
preaching,  should  have  his  head  covered,  and  the  peo- 
ple uncovered,  because  he  then  acts  as  their  teacher; 
but  in  administering  the  Lord's  Supper,  he  should  be 
uncovered,  and  the  people  covered,  as  he  there  acts  as 
their  servant.  The  Independents  at  this  time  received 
the  Lord's  Supper  every  Sabbath.  He  was  opposed  to 
the  communicants  comiiig  to  the  communion  table  in 
successive  companies;  but  thought,  that  while  some 
sat  at  the  table,  others  might  be  around  it. 

In  1643,  Mr.  Nye,  with  Mr.  Stephen  Marshall,  was 
sent  with  the  commissioners  to  Scotland.  He  was 
exceedingly  zealous  for  the  Solemn  League  and  Cov- 
enant, and  delivered  an  able  speech  before  the  House 
of  Commons,  prior  to  their  subscribing  this  instru- 
ment. 

Mr.  Nye  was  one  of  the  chaplains  sent  to  attend  on 
king  Charles  I.,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  in  the  year  1647. 

In  the  year  1653,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
"  Triers''  of  ministers;  and  in  1654,  when  the  Parlia- 
ment voted  a  toleration  to  all  who  professed  to  hold 
the  fundamentals  of  Christianity,  Mr.. Nye  was  one 
of  the  committee  of  learned  divines,  to  draw  up  a 
hst  of  fundamental  articles  of  faith,  to  be  presented 
to  the  House  of  Commons.  He  was  also  an  assistant 
to  the  commissioners  for  ejecting  ignorant  and  scan- 
dalous ministers  and  schoolmasters,  in  the  city  of 
London.  He  was  a  principal  manager  of  the  meeting 
of  the  Congregational  churches,  at  the  Savoy,  by 
order  of  the  Protector;    where  the  practice  of  the 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  351 

Congregational  churches  in  England  was  agreed  upon 
by  the  elders  and  commissioners,  October  12,  165S. 

After  the  restoration,  his  papers  were  ordered  lo 
be  seized,  and  for  a  while  were  kept  at  Lambeth; 
and  it  was  debated  whether  he  should  be  included  in 
the  general  amnesty,  as  it  was  known  that  he  had 
been  a  great  politican,  and  had  had  much  hand  in  all 
the  changes  which  had  taken  place.  The  result  was, 
that  the  council  adopted  the  following  order:  "That 
if  Philip  Nye  should,  after  the  first  of  September, 
accept  or  exercise  any  office,  civil,  ecclesiastical,  or 
military,  he  should,  to  all  intents  and  purposes  in  law, 
stand  as  if  he  had  been  totally  excepted  lor  life."  He 
of  course  was  ejected  from  his  living;  but  continued 
to  preach  privately,  as  he  had  opportunity.  Mr.  Nye 
departed  this  life  September,  1672. 

Mr.  Nye's  published  writings: 

1.  A  Letter  from  Scotland  to  his  Brethren  in  Eng- 
land; containing  an  account  of  the  success  of  their 
mission;  to  which  Mr.  Marshall's  name  is  also  sub- 
scribed. 

2.  An  Exhortation  to  taking  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant,  for  Reformation  and  Defence  of  Reli- 
gion. 

3.  The  Excellency  and  Lawfulness  of  the  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant;  a  speech  before  the  House  of 
Commons  and  the  reverend  Assembly  of  Ministers. 

4.  An  Apologetical  Narration,  to  the  House  of 
Commons. 

5.  An  Epistolary  Discourse  about  Toleration.  In 
the  two  last,  he  was  aided  by  Thomas  Goodwin. 

6.  The  Keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,  and 
Power  thereof,  according  to  the  Word  of  God. 

7.  Mr.  Anthony  Sadler  Examined. 

S.  The  Principles  of  Faith,  presented  by  Thomas 
Goodwin,  Philip  Nye,  &.c. 

9.  Beams  of  former  Light;  discovering  how  evil 
it  is  to  impose  disputed  and  doubtful  forms  and  prac- 
tices on  ministers. 

10.  The  Lawfulness  of  the  Oath  of  Supremacy. 


352 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


11.  Case  of  Great  and  Present  Use. 

12.  X  Vindication  of  Dissenters. 

13.  The  x^ature,  Constitution,  and  Power  of  Eccle- 
siastical Courts. 

14.  The  Lawfuhiess  of  Hearing  the  Ministers  of 
the  Church  of  England. 

15.  A  Sermon  to  the  Citizens  of  London.  Neh. 
vi.  11. 

Painter,  Henry,  B.  D.,  a  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster.  No  memorial  of  him 
beside  has  been  found. 

Palmer,  Herbert,  B.  D.,  was  born  in  Kent,  in 
England,  in  the  year  1601,  and  was  carefully  and 
religiously  educated  by  his  parents;  and  he  so  early 
manifested  a  pious  temper,  that  it  was  believed,  that 
like  Jeremiah,  he  was  sanctified  from  the  womb.  He, 
at  an  early  age,  deliberately  chose  the  holy  ministry, 
and  no  representations  of  the  difficulties  and  dangers 
of  the  sacred  office,  had  any  influence  in  diverting  his 
mind  from  this  object.  His  progress  in  learning  was 
rapid,  as  he  made  it  a  matter  of  conscience  to  lose  no 
time,  so  that  when  he  had  reached  his  14th  year,  he 
was  prepared  for  the  University;  and  entered  St. 
John's  College,  Cambridge,  where  he  took  his  de- 
grees; and  was  chosen  a  fellow  of  Queen's  College, 
in  1623.  In  this  situation,  although  possessed  of  an 
estate  of  his  own,  beside  his  fellowship,  yet  to  render 
himself  useful,  he  engaged  arduously  in  the  business 
of  a  tutor,  and  had  under  him  many  pupils,  to  whose 
literary  and  spiritual  improvement  he  paid  the  most 
assiduous  attention.  But  having,  on  some  occasion, 
preached  in  Canterbury,  he  received  a  pressing  invi- 
tation to  settle  in  that  place,  where  he  laboured  suc- 
cessfully, but  not  without  opposition,  for  several  years. 

In  1632,  Mr.  Palmer  was  presented  by  Laud,  with 
the  living  of  Ashwell,  in  Hertfordshire,  whither  he  re- 
moved; and  where  he  exercised  his  ministry  with 
great  diligence  and  fidelity;  performing  all  pastoral 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  353 

duties  with  punctuality  and  constancy;  and  setting 
before  the  people  in  his  own  life,  and  in  his  family, 
an  eminent  example  of  consistent  piety. 

In  1643,  Mr.  Palmer  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster;  on  the  business 
of  which  body  he  attended  with  much  assiduity. 
Having  resigned  his  charge  of  Ash  well,  when  called 
up  to  the  Assembly  at  Westminster,  he  was  invited 
to  preach  at  Duke's-place,  London,  and  afterwards  at 
New-church,  Westminster,  where  his  labours  were 
exceedingly  abundant;  frequently  speaking  six  or 
seven  hours  on  the  Lord's  day. 

In  1644,  Mr.  Palmer  was  appointed  president  of 
Queen's  College,  Cambridge;  where  his  influence  in 
promoting  both  learning  and  religion  was  great.  He 
attended  vigilantly  to  all  the  interests  of  the  college 
over  which  he  presided;  and  did  much  to  introduce 
proper  power  into  aU  the  scholarships;  and  funds 
which  had  been  squandered  in  feasting,  he  had  ap- 
propriated to  the  purchase  of  vahiable  books  for  the 
library. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  remarkable  for  his  strict  habits  of 
temperance;  abstaining  altogether  from  strong  drink; 
and  only  using  a  little  wine  for  his  stomach's  sake; 
and  eating  uniformly,  only  of  one  dish  of  flesh,  and 
of  that  very  sparingly.  As  he  lived  piously,  so  he 
died  in  peace,  and  in  cheerful  resignation  to  his 
heavenly  Father's  will.  This  event  occurred  in  the 
year  1647,  when  he  was  only  forty-six  years  of  age. 

His  stature  was  uncommonly  low;  so  that  in  the 
Assembly,  where  he  was  much  esteemed,  he  was 
called,  *'  the  little  Mr.  Palmer."  But  though  his  body 
was  small  and  delicate,  his  soul  was  enlarged  with 
extensive  knowledge,  and  enriched  with  every  grace 
and  virtue.  His  industry  and  labour  were  beyond 
his  strength;  and  although  his  friends  entreated  him 
to  spare  himself,  yet  he  could  not  be  persuaded  to 
diminish  any  of  his  labours.  Mr.  Palmer  was  a  gen- 
tleman of  independent  estate;  and  chose  to  live  a 
single  life.  But  he  made  a  good  use  of  his  income, 
for  he  constantly  supported  several  poor  scholars. 

23 


354  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Granger's  character  of  him  is,  that  he  was  "a  man  of 
uncommon  learning,  generosity,  and  politeness,  and 
possessed  a  most  excellent  character.  That  in  the 
civil  wars  he  wished  for  peace:  and  that  he  spoke 
the  French  language  with  as  much  ease  as  the 
English." 

Mr.  Palmer's  published  writings: 

1.  The  Principles  of  the  Christian  Religion  made 
Plain  and  Easy. 

2.  Of  making  Religion  one's  Business. 

3.  Sermons  preached  before  the  Parliament. 

4.  The  Christian  Sabbath  Vindicated. 

5.  Scripture  and  Reason  Pleaded  for  Defensive 
Arms. 

Peale,  Edv/ard,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  and  one  who  was  constant 
in  his  attendance.    Other  particulars,  not  ascertained. 

Perne,  Andrew,  was  born  in  the  year  1596,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
where  he  became  fellow  of  Katharine-Hall.  He  after- 
wards was  chosen  the  minister  of  Wilby,  in  North- 
amptonshire. He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  was  assidu- 
ous in  his  attention  to  the  business.  When  called  up 
to  the  Assembly,  his  reputation  was  very  high,  and 
he  had  several  offers  of  preferment,  about  London, 
but  he  declined  them  all,  being  fully  resolved  to  re- 
turn to  his  beloved  flock  at  Wilby,  among  whom  he 
had  laboured  for  about  twenty-seven  years.  Wood 
says,  "  that  he  frequently  preached  before  the  Long 
Parliament,  and  several  of  his  sermons  were  printed, 
but  they  have  been  mostly  buried  in  oblivion.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  a  lively,  powerful  preacher;  and  he 
enforced  his  precepts  by  a  holy  example.  His  minis- 
try was  not  in  vain,  for  a  considerable  reformation  was 
wrought  by  his  preaching.  Mr.  Ains worth  describes 
him  as  being  full  of  spiritual  warmth;  and  he  was 
never  more  at  home  tlian  in  the  pulpit.  As  his  life 
was  holy,  so  his  end  was  happy.     He  blessed  God, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  355 

that  he  was  not  afraid  to  die;  nay,  he  earnestly  de- 
sired to  be  gone.  And  in  his  last  illness,  often  ex- 
claimed, "0,  when  will  that  hour  come?" — '^  One 
assault  more,  and  this  earthen  vessel  shall  be  broken, 
and  I  shall  be  with  God." 

He  died  December  13,  1654,  aged  sixty  years. 

Mr.  Samuel  Ainsworth,  one  of  the  silenced  non- 
conformists, preached  and  published  his  funeral  ser- 
mon. His  remains  were  interred  in  the  chancel  of 
Wilby  Church,  where  the  following  words  were  in- 
scribed on  his  tomb: 

*'Here  lieth  interred  Mr.  Andrew  Perne,  a  faithful 
servant  of  Jesus  Christ;  a  zealous  owner  ever  of 
God's  cause  in  perilous  times;  a  powerful  and  suc- 
cessful preacher  of  the  gospel;  a  great  blessing  to 
this  town  and  country,  where  he  lived  twenty-seven 
years.     He  departed  December  13,  1654." 

There  is  extant  one  sermon  of  Mr.  Perne,  which  is 
entitled,  "Gospel  Courage,  or  a  Christian  Resolution 
for  God,  and  his  Truth;"  preached  before  the  House 
of  Commons,  on  a  public  fast,  in  Margaret  Church, 
from  Micah  iv.  5. 

Philips,  John,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster,  and  according  to  NeaPs  list,  a 
constant  attendant  on  the  business  of  that  body. 

Pickering,  Benjamin,  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  one  who  was  constant 
in  his  attendance. 

He  preached  a  sermon  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, entitled,  "A  Brand  Plucked  out  of  the  Burn- 
ing," from  Zech.  iii.  2. 

To  this  sermon,  he  prefixed  a  letter  to  the  House 
of  Commons,  in  which  he  exhorts  them  to  set  up  a 
faithful  ministry,  to  establish  judgment  and  justice  in 
the  gates;  to  let  their  zeal  for  the  Lord  burn,  setting 
up  his  worship  and  ordinances  in  purity."  He  goes 
on  to  say,  '^Be  zealous  for  Christ's  cause;  delay  not 
to  establish  his  government  and  discipline  with  vig- 


356  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

our.  Proceed  so  in  your  reforming,  that  glory  may 
dwell  in  our  land — that  merc}^  and  truth,  righteous- 
ness and  peace,  may  meet  together  and  kiss  each 
other.  Continue  in  your  integrity,  and  the  Lord  will 
continue  to  be  a  sun  and  shield  to  you.  Although 
Satan  be  at  your  right  hand,  fear  not,  so  long  as  our 
Mediator  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  God." 

De  La  Place,  Samuel,  was  the  minister  of  the 
French  Church,  and  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster. 

Price,  William,  B.  D.,  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster.  In  the  debates  of  that 
body,  he  opposed  the  institution  of  ruling  elders,  as 
of  Scriptural  authority;  and  was  considered  by  Mr. 
Baillie,as  one  of  the  ablest  divines  in  the  Assembly. 

He  published  a  sermon,  entitled,  "Man's  Delin- 
quency attended  by  Divine  Justice,  intermixed  with 
Mercy;  preached  in  the  Abbey  Church,  before  the 
House  of  Lords,  from  Ezra  ix.  6,  7,  8. 

Some  of  his  striking  sayings  in  this  discourse  are, 
"We  are  ashamed  of  our  glory,  and  glory  in  our 
shame." — "When  the  soul-wounded  publican  durst 
not  look  up  to  heaven,  heaven  looked  down  to  him." 
— "  Great  knowledge  greatens  sins;  for  knowledge  is 
like  the  unicorn's  horn,  that  doth  well  in  a  wise  and 
good  man's  hand,  but  ill  on  a  beast's  head." 

Proffet,  Nicholas,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  and  marked  by  Neal  as  one 
who  was  assiduous  in  his  attendance.  When  called 
up  to  the  Assembly,  he  was  rector  of  St.  Peters, 
Marlborough,  in  the  county  of  Wilts.  While  attend- 
ing on  the  business  of  the  Assembly,  he  seems  to 
have  been  minister  of  Edmonton,  near  London. 

He  published  a  good  sermon,  entitled,  "England's 
Impenitence,  under  smiting,  causing  anger  to  be  con- 
tinued, and  the  hand  of  God  to  be  stretched  out  still." 
A  sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  at  a  public 
fast,  from  Isaiah  ix.  13. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  357 

To  this  sermon,  there  was  prefixed  a  very  judicious 
epistle,  addressed  to  the  House  of  Commons. 

Rathband,  William,  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  one  who  was  con- 
stant in  his  attendance.  He  preached  on  a  public 
fast,  before  the  House  of  Commons;  but  the  sermon 
was  not  then  printed.  There  were  two  eminent  di- 
vines in  England  about  this  time,  of  this  name,  the 
father  and  son.  The  former  preached  nineteen  years, 
at  a  chapel  in  Lancashire;  and  when  he  was  perse- 
cuted for  non-conformity,  he  removed  into  Northum- 
berland. He  published  a  book  against  the  Brownists, 
which  bishop  Stillingfieet  quotes,  to  prove  that  the 
old  non-conformists  did  not  think  it  right  to  exercise 
their  ministry,  when  prohibited  by  law.  His  son 
utterly  denied  that  his  father  ever  held  such  a  senti- 
ment, and  showed  that  his  own  conduct  was  repug- 
nant to  it;  for  he  preached  many  years  in  Lancashire, 
contrary  to  law;  and  when  he  was  silenced,  he  still 
went  on  to  preach,  as  he  had  opportunity.  He  had 
two  sons  in  the  ministry;  the  first  was  a  Puritan  of 
eminence,  and  one  of  the  four  preachers  stationed 
and  maintained  at  York:  the  other,  William  Rath- 
band,  already  mentioned,  was  one  of  the  ejected  min- 
isters of  1662,  and  is  by  some  said  to  have  been  a 
member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  also;  but  Dr. 
Calamy  does  not  mention  the  fact.  From  all  that  is 
on  record,  it  seems  doubtful  whether  the  father  or 
son  was  the  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  as 
they  both  had  the  same  name,  and  were  both  eminent 
Puritans;  but  the  probability  seems  to  be  strongest 
in  favour  of  the  son.  With  the  latter,  Mr.  Slater  was 
acquainted  for  fifty  years;  they  were  of  the  same 
college,  and  when  he  died  at  Highgate,  which  was 
his  last  residence,  preached  his  funeral  sermon.  He 
died  October,  1695. 

Reyner,  William,  B.  D.,  was  educated  in  the 
University  of  Cambridge,  and  was  blessed  with  much 
success  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  ministry,  among  the 


358 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


gentry.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  very  conscientious 
man,  and  of  an  rincommonly  disinterested  spirit;  for, 
though  his  living  was  not  worth  more  than  £60  per 
annum;  yet  he  refused  the  presidency  of  Magdalen 
College,  in  Oxford,  and  also  a  fellowship  at  Eton, 
because  he  believed  that  pluralities  were  wrong.  He 
was  chosen  to  be  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster,  and  was  assiduous  in  his  atten- 
tion to  the  transactions  of  that  venerable  body.  He 
was  minister  of  Eggham,  in  the  county  of  Surrey, 
near  forty-six  years;  from  which  place  he  was  cast 
out  by  the  act  of  uniformity,  in  1662. 

At  the  time  of  his  ejectment,  he  possessed  no  visible 
property,  yet  he  lived  in  comfort,  by  the  care  of  a  kind 
Providence;  and  still  exercised  his  ministry  as  he  had 
opportunity,  in  private  places. 

He  died  in  1666,  leaving  behind  him  an  unsullied 
reputation.  His  disease  was  the  stone,  with  which 
he  had  been  long  afflicted;  and  after  his  death,  an 
examination  was  made,  and  a  stone  found  in  the 
bladder  weighing  ten  ounces,  and  measuring  nine 
inches  and  a  half  in  the  form  of  a  heart.  He  was  an 
intimate  friend  of  archbishop  Usher,  by  whom  he  was 
highly  esteemed. 

His  only  pubhcation,  according  to  Dr.  Calamy,  was 
a  sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  entitled 
"Babylon's^  Ruining  Earthquake,  and  the  Restora- 
tion of  Zion,"  from  Haggai  ii.  6,  7. 

Reynolds,  Edward,  D.  D.,  was  born  at  Southamp- 
ton, in  Hampshire,  England,  in  1593.  In  1615,  he 
became  post-master  of  Merton  College,  and  in  1620, 
probationer-fellow;  which  place  was  bestowed  upon 
him  in  consideration  of  his  eminent  skill  in  the  Greek 
language.  In  his  college,  he  was  much  distinguished 
as  an  able  disputant,  and  a  good  orator.  After  taking 
the  degree  of  A.  M.  he  entered  into  holy  orders,  and 
became  a  very  eminent  preacher.  For  some  time  he 
was  preacher  to  the  honourable  society  of  Lincoln's 
Inn,  and  rector  of  Braynton,  in  Northamptonshire. 
Wlien  the  civil  war  commenced,  he  espoused  the 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  359 

cause  of  the  Parliament:  having  been  long  inclined 
to  the  opinions  of  the  Pin'itans.  He  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster, 
in  1643,  and  was  constant  in  his  attendance.  In  1645, 
he  was  put  on  the  committee  to  examine  applicants 
for  sequestered  livings;  and  also  one  of  the  "com- 
mittee o{  accommodation.^^  In  1646,  he  was  one  of 
the  seven  ministers  sent  to  Oxford,  to  preach  to  the 
students  obedience  to  the  Parliament.  Afterwards 
he  was  appointed  a  visiter  to  that  University;  and  re- 
ceived the  office  of  dean  of  Christ  church;  and  in  1648, 
he  was  advanced  to  be  vice-chancellor  of  the  Uni- 
versity, when  he  took  his  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity. 
But  in  1650,  he  was  ejected  for  refusing  the  "  engage- 
ment,^^ on  which  he  retired  to  his  old  charge;  but 
soon  made  London  his  princip'al  residence,  and  be- 
came minister  of  Lawrence,  Jewry.  Wood  says, 
"that  Dr.  Reynolds  was  the  pride  and  glory  of  the 
Presbyterians,  in  the  city  of  London." 

In  1660,  he  was  made,  with  Dr.  Calamy,  chaplain 
to  the  king,  and  his  deanery  was  restored.  He  had 
taken  an  active  pai?t  with  Monk  and  others,  in  bring- 
ing back  the  king.  He  preached  several  times  before 
his  majesty,  and  both  Houses  of  Parliament.  He 
was  now  made  warden  of  Merton  College,  Oxford; 
and  having  made  up  his  mind  to  conform  to  the 
liturgy,  he  was  consecrated  bishop  of  Norwich.  His 
old  friends  were  not  a  little  surprised  at  his  change  of 
views,  as  he  had  been  a  strenuous  opposer  of  Episco- 
pacy, and  the  ceremonies  of  the  church;  and  by  some 
of  his  contemporaries,  it  was  attributed  to  the  undue 
influence  of  a  covetous  and  ambitious  consort.  His 
character,  as  given  by  Wood,  is,  "  that  he  was  a  per- 
son of  excellent  parts  and  and  endowments;  of  a  very 
good  wit,  fancy,  and  judgment;  a  great  divine,  and 
much  esteemed  by  all  parties  for  his  preaching,  and 
florid  style." 

Another  testifies,  "that  he  was  a  man  of  singular 
aff"ability,  meekness,  and  humility;  of  great  learning; 
a  frequent  preacher,  and  a  constant  resident."  Neal 
says,  "  that  he  was  reckoned  one  of  the  most  eloquent 


360 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


pulpit  men  of  his  age,  and  a  good  old  Puritan,  who 
never  concerned  himself  with  the  politics  of  the 
court." 

Dr.  Reynolds  died  July  28, 1676,  about  the  seventy- 
sixth  year  of  his  age. 

His  published  writings  are, 

1.  The  Vanity  of  the  Creature. 

2.  The  Sinfulness  of  Sin,  with  the  Use  of  the  Law. 

3.  The  Fellowship  of  the  Saints  with  Him,  in  his 
Life,  Sufferings,  and  Resurrection. 

4.  An  Explication  of  the  ex.  Psalm. 

5.  Meditations  on  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper. 

6.  Israel's  Prayer  in  the  time  of  Trouble,  with 
God's  Gracious  Armour. 

7.  A  Treatise  of  the  Passions  and  Faculties  of  the 
Soul  of  Man. 

8.  Thirty  Sermons,  preached  on  different  occasions. 

9.  English  Annotations  on  Ecclesiastes. 

Rutherford,  Samuel,  was  born  in  the  parish  of 
Tongueland,  near  Kirkcudbright,  in  the  south  of  Scot- 
land. Often,  remarkable  dispeusations  of  Providence 
designate  or  direct  certain  persons  to  be  ministers  of 
the  gospel,  and  that  even  from  their  earliest  days.  It 
is  a  tradition  respecting  this  eminent  man,  that  when 
a  child,  he  was  remarkably  saved  from  drowning  in 
a  well,  into  which  he  had  fallen;  which  was  the  occa- 
sion of  his  father's  devoting  him  to  the  holy  ministry, 
hoping  that  he  might  become  an  eminently  useful 
man.  His  natural  abilities  were  excellent,  and  he 
received  a  good  classical  education  at  Edinburgh;  and 
his  reputation  soon  rose  so  high,  that  he  was  chosen 
a  professor  in  the  University  of  that  city.  Afterwards 
he  was  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Anworth,  where  he 
laboured  successfully  for  several  years. 

In  1630,  Mr.  Rutherford  was  summoned  before  the 
high-commission  court,  on  account  of  his  preaching 
and  writings;  and  though  much  interest  was  made 
for  him,  yet  he  was  condemned  and  deprived  of  his 
living,  and  ordered  to  confine  himself  to  Aberdeen 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  361 

During  his  confinement,  he  wrote  most  of  those  admi- 
rable letters,  which  have  been  so  long  read  with  de- 
light and  edification  by  the  pious.  As  he  delighted 
exceedingly  in  preaching  the  gospel,  this  privation 
affected  him  more  than  any  thing  else.  In  one  of  his 
letters  to  Lady  Kinmure,  wrUten  at  this  time,  he  says, 
"My  silence  on  the  Lord's  day  keeps  me  from  being 
exalted  above  measure.  I  have  wrestled  long  with 
this  sad  silence.  I  said,  what  aileth  Christ  at  my  ser- 
vice? My  soul  has  been  pleading  with  Christ;  and 
at  yea,  and  nay — but  I  will  yield  to  him,  provided  that 
my  sufferings  preach  more  than  my  tongue  did;  for 
I  gave  not  Christ  an  inch,  but  for  two  as  good  again. 
In  a  word,  I  am  a  fool,  and  he  is  God — I  will  hold 
my  peace  hereafter." — "  0  how  sweet  are  the  suffer- 
ings of  Christ,  for  Christ.  It  were  a  sweet  and  honour- 
able death  to  die  for  the  honour  of  that  royal  and 
princely  King  Jesus.  His  love  is  a  mystery  to  the 
world.  I  would  not  have  believed  that  there  was  so 
much  in  Christ  as  there  is.  'Come,  and  see;' — this 
maketh  Christ  to  be  known  in  his  excellent  glory." 

This  confinement  continued  nearly  two  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  experienced  the  abundant  conso- 
lations of  the  grace  of  Christ.  In  1638,  he  was  re- 
leased, and  restored  to  his  people,  and  again  labour- 
ed among  them  with  great  fidelity  and  success.  His 
ministry  was  attended  by  multitudes  from  all  the  ad- 
jacent country;  for  in  those  days  the  word  of  God,  in 
its  purity,  was  precious.  Mr.  Rutherford  was  a  com- 
missioner to  the  General  Assembly  which  met  in 
1638,  and  took  a  very  active  part  in  the  proceedings 
of  that  body;  and  was  by  them  appointed  to  be  Pro- 
fessor of  Divinity  in  the  new  College  of  St.  Andrews. 
He  made  an  ineffectual  opposition  to  his  translation 
from  his  flock  at  An  worth;  but  as  he  could  not  live 
without  preaching,  he  obtained  a  provision  in  his  set- 
tlement, that  he  should  be  a  colleague  to  the  cele- 
brated Robert  Blair,  who  had  recently  been  settled 
at  St.  Andrews.  He  believed,  with  Paul,  that  there 
was  a  woe  upon  him  if  he  preached  not  the  gospel. 

In  the  year   1640,  Mr.   Rutherford  distinguished 


362 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


himself  greatly  in  defence  of  private  religions  meet- 
ings for  social  worship,  against  Mr.  Henry  Guthrie 
and  the  Earl  of  Seaforth,  in  the  General  Assembly. 
He  wrote  also  a  work  in  defence  of  such  meetings. 

He  was  appointed  by  the  Assembly  in  1643,  to 
meet  the  English  commissioners,  when  the  "  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant,"  was  formed;  and,  in  the 
same  year,  was  chosen  one  of  the  commissioners 
from  the  Church  of  Scotland,  to  attend  the  Assembly 
of  Divines,  at  Westminster.  And  he  was  a  useful 
and  influential  member  of  that  body,  for  in  their  de- 
bates he  spoke  to  good  purpose,  and  with  effect. 
The  Scottish  commissioners  were  especially  useful  in 
the  Assembly  in  all  matters  that  related  to  Church 
government  and  discipline.  Mr.  Baillie,  in  his  "  Let- 
ters," says,  "  Had  not  God  sent  Messrs.  Henderson, 
Rutherford,  and  Gillespie,  I  see  not  that  they  could 
ever  agree  on  any  settled  government."  None  of 
them  displayed  more  ability  and  learning,  in  this  de- 
bate, than  Rutherford.  He  encountered  sometimes 
Lightfoot  himself  with  success,  on  his  own  ground 
of  Rabbinical  learning. 

While  he  resided  in  London  he  wrote  his  work, 
entitled,  "Lex  Rex,"  and  some  other  works  against 
Erastians,  Independents,  and  Anabaptists.  He  also 
wrote  against  the  Familists  in  England.  It  appears 
also,  from  Mr.  Baillie's  Letters,  that  in  1646,  he  pub- 
lished a  work  against  the  Antinomians. 

When  the  business  of  the  Assembly  was  nearly 
terminated,  Mr.  Rutherford  moved  that  it  should  be 
entered  on  record,  that  the  Scottish  commissioners 
had  attended  during  all  the  discussions  on  a  "Direc- 
tory for  Public  Worship;"  "A  uniform  Confession  of 
Faith;"  "  A  form  of  Church  Government  and  Disci- 
pline;" and  "  A  public  Catechism."  After  which 
Mr.  Rutherford,  and  the  other  commissioners,  took 
their  leave;  when  Mr.  Herle,  the  prolocutor,  arose, 
and  in  the  name  of  the  Assembly,  thanked  them  for 
their  assistance. 

Mr.  Rutherford's  reputation,  as  a  theologian,  was 
raised  so  high  by  his  Latin  treatises  against  the  Ar- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


363 


minians  and  Jesuits,  that  he  received  an  invitation 
from  Holland,  to  become  a  Professor  in  the  newly- 
erected  University  of  Harderwych.  And  in  the  same 
year,  1649,  a  motion  was  made,  but  not  carried,  to 
have  him  translated  to  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 
In  the  Assembly  of  this  year  there  was  a  warm  de- 
bate on  the  question.  In  whom  is  the  right  of  electing 
ministers?  Mr.  Calderwood  was  peremptorily  in  fa- 
vour of  its  being  in  Presbyteries;  but  Mr.  Rutherford 
boldly  stood  up  for  the  rights  of  ihe  people. 

Mr.  Rutherford  had  also  an  invitation  to  fill  the 
Divinity  chair  in  the  University  of  Utrecht,  in  Hol- 
land, which  he  declined  entirely  on  patriotic  grounds, 
believing  that  he  ought  not  to  forsake  his  country, 
when  she  so  much  needed  his  services. 

When  the  unhappy  dispute  arose  in  Scotland,  be- 
tween the  Resolutioners  and  the  Protestors,  Mr.  Ru- 
therford adhered  to  the  latter;  for  an  account  of 
which  Wodrow's  History  may  be  consulted. 

In  1660,  a  proclamation  was  published  against  his 
famous  work,  "  Lex  Rex,"  which  had  been  printed 
m  London,  in  1644;  also  against  a  book  supposed  to 
be  written  by  Mr.  James  Guthrie,  entitled,  "The 
Causes  of  God's  Wrath."  These  books  were  sup- 
posed to  contain  many  things  injurious  to  the  king, 
and  other  treasonable  matter.  They  were,  therefore, 
called  in;  and  it  was  declared,  that  every  person  who 
should  be  found,  after  the  ensuing  October,  to  have 
any  of  these  books  in  possession,  should  be  punished 
in  their  persons  and  estates;  and  the  copies  which 
were  brought  in  were  burned  at  Edinburgh,  by  the 
hand  of  the  hangman,  October  17,  1660.  One  says 
shrewdly,  "  It  was  much  easier  to  burn  the  books 
than  to  answer  them."  Still,  however,  many  copies 
escaped  the  flames,  and  are  still  extant.  An  indict- 
ment would  have  been  prepared  against  Mr.  Ruther- 
ford by  the  parliament,  had  he  not  been  called  to  ap- 
pear before  an  higher  tribunal.  While  he  was  evi- 
dently dying,  they  cited  him  to  appear  at  Edinburgh, 
to  answer  to  a  charge  of  high  treason. 

He  lamented  on  his  death-bed,  that  he  was  hinder- 


364 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


ed  from  bearing  testimony  to  the  glorious  work  of 
reformation  since  163S,  and  against  the  defections  of 
the  present  times.  But  about  twelve  days  before  his 
death,  he  subscribed  an  ample  testimony  against  the 
corruptions  and  sinful  compliances  of  the  Church  and 
nation. 

During  his  last  illness  he  was  full  of  joy  and  peace, 
and  uttered  many  savoury  speeches,  speaking  much 
in  commendation  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  his  honour- 
able service,  such  as  the  following:  "  I  shall  shine,  I 
shall  see  him  as  he  is,  and  all  the  fair  company  with 
him,  and  shall  have  my  large  share.  It  is  not  easy 
to  be  a  Christian;  but  I  have  obtained  the  victory 
through  him  who  loved  me;  and  Christ  is  holding 
forth  his  arms  to  embrace  me.  I  have  had  my  fears 
and  faintings,  like  other  sinful  men,  but  as  sure  as  he 
spake  to  me  in  his  word,  his  Spirit  witnessed  to  my 
heart,  saying,  '  Fear  not,  he  hath  accepted  thy  suffer- 
ing; and  thy  outgoing  should  not  be  matter  of  prayer, 
but  praise.'  "  And  a  short  time  before  his  departure, 
he  said,  "Now  I  feel — I  enjoy — I  rejoice;"  and,  turn- 
ing to  Mr.  Blair,  who  was  present,  he  said,  "  I  feed 
upon  manna — I  have  angels'  food — my  eyes  shall 
see  my  Redeemer — I  know  that  he  shall  stand  at  the 
latter  day  on  the  earth — and  I  shall  be  caught  up  in 
the  clouds,  to  meot  him  in  the  air."  Afterwards  he 
said,  "'  I  sleep  in  Christ,  and  when  I  awake  I  shall  be 
satisfied  with  his  likeness — 0  for  arms  to  embrace 
him."  When  one  mentioned  his  labours  in  the  min- 
istry, he  cried  out,  "I  disclaim  all — the  port  I  would 
lie  in  at,  is  redemption,  and  forgiveness  of  sins, 
through  Christ's  blood."  He  died"  in  the  month  of 
March,  1661. 

The  published  writings  of  Mr.  Rutherford  are, 

1.  Exercitationes  Apologeticse,  Pro  Divina  Gratia, 
contra  Jesuitas  and  Arminianos. 

2.  A  Peaceable  and  Temperate  Plea  for  Paul's 
Presbytery,  in  Scotland. 

3.  The  True  Right  of  Presbyteries;  4to.  1642. 

4.  Lex  Rex. 

5.  A  Sermon  to  the  House  of  Lords. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  365 

6.  A  Sermon  to  the  House  of  Commons. 

7.  The  Trial  and  Triumph  of  Faith. 

8.  Divine  Right  of  Church  Government,  and  Ex- 
communication. 

9.  Christ  Dying  and  Drawing  Sinners  to  Himself. 

10.  A  Survey  of  the  Spiritual  Antichrist. 

11.  A  Free  Disputation  against  Liberty  of  Con- 
science. 

12.  Disputatio  Scholastica,  De  Divina  Providentia. 

13.  The  Covenant  of  Grace  opened. 

14.  A  Survey  of  the  Survey  of  the  Sum  of  Chris- 
tian Discipline. 

15.  Influences  of  the  Life  of  Grace. 

16.  Religious  Letters;  of  which  there  have  been 
many  editions. 

17.  Examen  Arminianismi. 

18.  A  Practical  Discourse  on  Matthew  ix.  27 — 31. 

19.  Sermons  on  various  subjects. 

Salway,  Arthur,  was  pastor  of  a  church  at  Sev- 
ernstoke,  county  of  Worcester,  England.  In  the  time 
of  the  civil  wars,  he  espoused  tlie  part  of  the  Parha- 
ment,  and  was  a  zealous  reformer.  He  was  esteemed 
a  zealous  friend  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 

In  the  year  1643,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster;  and  gave 
constant  attendance  during  the  sessions.  He  preached 
a  sermon  from  1  Kings  xviii.  21,  before  the  House  of 
Commons,  October  25,  1643,  at  their  monthly  fast. 
The  sermon  is  entitled,  "Halting  Stigmatized.''  In 
the  application  of  the  sermon,  the  preacher  says, 
"  Honourable  Senators,  hath  there  not  been  hailing 
within  your  walls?  Have  not  many  of  your  mem- 
bers unworthily  forsaken  you,  and  miserably  desert- 
ed the  glorious  cause  of  God  ?  The  Lord  open  their 
eyes,  and  heal  their  backslidings."  He  adds,  "Act 
in  the  strength  of  Jesus  Christ.  Get  your  hearts 
warmed  with  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  the 
apostle  calls  a  constraining  love.  Reward  draws, 
punishment  drives,  but  love  is  most  efficacious  in  per- 
suadmg  us  to  the  discharge  of  our  duty.'' — "  Fix  your 


366 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


faith  on  the  promises.  Study  Moses's  Optics.  Eye 
him  who  is  invisible;  and  eye  the  threats  also.  Look 
upon  that  good  which  God  promises,  as  the  greatest 
good;  and  upon  the  evil  which  he  threatens,  as  the 
greatest  evil." 

His  zeal  against  popery  may  be  understood  from  the 
following  exhortations,  in  the  same  sermon.  "  Down 
with  Baal's  altars,  down  with  Baal's  priests.  Do 
not,  I  beseech  you,  consent  to  a  toleration  of  BaaPs 
worship  in  this  kingdom,  on  any  political  considera- 
tion whatever." 

In  the  close,  he  says,  "■  Shortly,  I  hope,  a  platform 
of  worship  will  be  presented  unto  you,  by  those 
whom  you  have  employed  for  that  purpose.  I  be- 
seech you,  bring  all  to  the  touch-stone  of  the  word. 
Believe  it,  worthies,  that  form  of  government  will  be 
best  for  the  state,  which  is  most  agreeable  to  the 
word." 

Whether  other  specimens  of  this  author's  writings 
are  extant,  is  not  known.  He  seems  to  have  been  a 
bold  and  spirited  preacher. 

ScuDDER,  Henry,  B.  D.,  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster,  received  his  education  in 
Christ's  Church,  Cambridge.  He  was  afterwards  min- 
ister of  Drayton,  Oxfordshire;  where  he  was  held  in 
high  esteem  for  his  singular  prudence  and  piety,  and 
his  excellent  ministerial  labours.  In  his  vicinity,  Mr. 
Robert  Harris,  and  Mr. William  Whately  were  settled ; 
and  between  these  three  clergymen,  of  like  spirit,  a 
close  intimacy,  and  much  ministerial  intercourse  took 
place.  They  met  every  week  to  exhibit  a  translation 
and  analysis  of  a  chapter  in  the  Bible,  which  each  had 
made.  They  were  also  united  in  affinity,  as  Mr. 
Harris  married  Mr.  W^hately's  sister,  and  Mr.  Scud- 
der  his  wife's  sister.  His  attendance  on  the  business 
of  the  Assembly  was  assiduous  from  the  commence- 
ment of  its  labours. 

Mr.  Scudder  was  the  author  of  a  work,  entitled, 
"The  Christian's  Daily  Walk,  in  Holy  Security  and 
Peace,"  which  has  received  the  highest  commenda- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  367 

tions  from  men  of  the  greatest  name.  Dr.  Owen  has, 
in  the  strongest  terms,  expressed  his  approbation  of 
the  work,  in  a  preface  to  a  new  edition.  And  Mr. 
Baxter  says,  "  I  remember  not  any  book  which  is 
written  to  be  the  daily  companion  of  Christians, 
which  I  prefer  before  this:  I  am  sure  none  of  my 
own.  For  so  sound  is  the  doctrine  of  this  book,  so 
prudent  and  spiritual,  apt  and  savoury,  and  so  suited 
to  our  ordinary  cases  and  conditions,  that  I  heartily 
wish  no  family  may  be  without  it."  This  work  was 
translated  into  the  German,  by  the  learned  Theodore 
Haak. 

Mr.  Scudder  also  wrote  the  life  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Whately.  He  was  also  called  upon  to  preach  before 
the  Parliament;  and  his  sermon,  founded  on  Micah 
vi.  9,  and  entitled,  "  God's  Warning  to  England,  by 
the  voice  of  his  rod,"  was  delivered  at  St.  Margaret's, 
Westminster,  and  published,  with  a  long  epistle  dedi- 
catory to  the  House  of  Commons. 

His  "Daily  Walk"  went  through  many  editions 
in  a  short  time,  but,  unhappily,  is  now  fallen  into 
oblivion. 

Seaman,  Lazarus^  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Leicester, 
England,  and  was  educated  in  Emanuel  College, 
Cambridge.  But  being  in  straitened  circumstances, 
he  was  unable  to  support  himself  at  College,  and  went 
to  teach  a  school,  so  that  he  was  in  a  good  measure 
self  taught.  He  was  presented  by  bishop  Laud,  to 
All-Hallows,  Bread  street,  London,  in  1642.  In 
1643,  he  was  chosen  to  be  a  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  is  said  to  have 
given  constant  attendance,  and  was  very  active  in  the 
transaction  of  business. 

Dr.  Calamy  says,  "He  was  a  great  Divine,  tho- 
roughly studied  in  the  original  languages  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  He  was  also  well  studied  in  Church  gov- 
ernment, and  was  therefore  sent  to  the  Isle  of  Wight, 
to  confer  with  Charles  I.  on  ecclesiastical  matters, 
where  his  knowledge  and  sagacity  were  particularly 
marked  by  the  king." 


368  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Mr.  Jenkyii,  who  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  de- 
scribes hina,  "as  a  person  of  deep,  piercing,  eagle- 
eyed  judgment,  in  all  matters  of  controversial  divi- 
nity. He  could  state  a  theological  question  with  ad- 
mirable clearness  and  acuteness;  nor  was  he  less  able 
to  defend,  than  to  find  out  the  truth.  He  was,  I  had 
almost  said,  an  invincible  disputant."  On  a  certain 
occasion,  he  was  invited  by  a  noble  lady,  who  was  in 
doubt  about  tlie  claims  of  the  Romanists,  to  meet  two 
priests  of  that  persuasion;  and  he  did  not  hesitate  to 
appear  alone,  in  defence  of  the  truth.  The  contro- 
versy was  respecting  transubstantiation,  and  was  con- 
ducted by  him  witli  such  consummate  ability,  that 
the  priests  were  silenced,  and  this  noble  family  were 
preserved  from  going  over  to  the  popish  religion. 

In  1654,  Mr.  Seaman  was  made  master  of  Peter 
House,  in  the  University  of  Cambridge,  by  the  earl  of 
Manchester,  after  undergoing  an  examination  by  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster.  The  earl  came 
in  person,  and  publicly  declared  him  master  of  Peter 
House,  in  the  room  of  Dr.  Cosins,  was  who  ejected.  In 
tliis  high  station,  he  acquitted  himself  in  a  very  hon- 
ourable manner;  and  when  he  took  his  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  he  acquired  high  reputation;  for 
he  did  not  obtain  this  honour  by  the  favour  of  a  pa- 
tron, but  by  pertbrming  the  exercises  appointed  by 
the  statutes  of  the  University,  in  which  he  displayed 
his  abilities  in  polemic  theology,  in  a  very  peculiar 
manner.  He  was  generally  acknowledged  to  be  a 
man  of  superior  abilities,  a  skilful  casuist,  a  sound 
expositor  of  Scripture,  and  a  judicious  and  impressive 
preacher.  In  his  latter  days  he  devoted  much  atten- 
tion to  the  prophecies,  and  wrote  some  notes  on  the 
book  of  Revelation. 

Dr.  Seaman  lost  all  his  places  at  the  restoration, 
and  was  among  the  ejected  ministers,  under  the  ope- 
ration of  the  act  of  uniformity,  in  1662.  He  resided 
afterwards  in  London,  and  was  greatly  afflicted  with 
a  very  painful  disease,  the  tortures  of  which  he  bore 
with  admirable  patience.     His  friend,  Mr.  Jenkyn, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  369 

observes:  "  I  never  admired  his  scholarship  so  much 
as  I  did  his  patience;  the  lesson  in  which  he  grew  so 
perfect  in  the  school  of  affliction." 

He  died  in  peace,  September  9,  1675.  Mr.  Jenkyn, 
in  his  funeral  sermon,  calls  him  "a  burning  and  shi- 
ning light;  an  interpreter,  one  of  a  thousand;  a  scribe 
instructed  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'^  I  may  justly 
say  of  him,  he  was  an  ocean  of  theology;  a  living 
body  of  Divinity;  and  his  "tongue  as  the  pen  of  a 
ready  writer."  He  was  a  person  of  great  steadiness 
in  the  truth — deeply  and  sensibly  interested  for  the 
state  of  the  church,  and  inquisitive  about  its  condition 
in  foreign  parts.  He  was  ready  for  every  good  work; 
industrious  and  indefatigable  in  his  calling;  and  an 
example  of  patience  in  suffering  affliction.  His  libra- 
ry, which  was  very  valuable,  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  sold  at  auction,  in  England.  It  brought  seven 
hundred  pounds  sterling. 

Dr.  Seaman's  writings: 

1.  Solomon's  Choice;  a  Precedent  for  Kings,  Prin- 
ces, &c.;  before  the  House  of  Commons.  1  Kings 
iii.  9. 

2.  The  Head  of  the  Church,  the  Judge  of  the 
World;  or  the  Doctrine  of  the  Day  of  Judgment;  be- 
fore the  Peers.   Acts  xvii.  30. 

3.  A  Vindication  of  the  Reformed  Churches  and 
Protestant  Divines,  concerning  Ordination,  &c. 

4.  A  Farewell  sermon,  at  his  ejectment;  from  Hebi 
xiii.  20,  in  which  he  expresses  a  strong  confidence  in 
God's  covenant,  and  on  Christ  the  Head. 

Sedgwick,  Obadiah,  B.  D.,  a  member  of  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  was  born  at  Marl- 
borough, Wiltshire,  England,  in  the  year  1600,  and 
received  his  elementary  instruction  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity.  In  the  year  1616,  he  was  sent  to  Queen's 
College,  Oxford;  but  soon  transferred  his  connexion 
to  Magdalen  Hall,  where  he  took  his  degrees  in  the 
arts.  After  finishing  his  academical  course,  he  enter- 
ed the  holy  ministry,  and  became  chaplain  to  Lord 
24 


370 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


Vere,  whom  he  accompanied  to  the  Low  Countries. 
Upon  his  return,  he  resided  again  in  Oxford,  where 
he  was  tutor  to  Matthew  Hale,  the  celebrated  chief- 
justice  of  England.  He  next  became  a  preacher  at 
Mildred's,  Bread-street,  London;  but  in  1639,  he  be- 
came minister  of  Coggeshall,  in  Essex.  In  1643,  he 
was  called  up  to  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  and  re- 
sumed his  labours  at  Mildred's.  He  was  appointed 
one  of  the  licensers  of  books;  and  in  1654,  he  was 
appointed  by  Parliament  one  of  the  Triers^  to  license 
ministers;  and  also  an  assistant  to  the  commissioners, 
for  ejecting  ignorant  and  scandalous  ministers  and 
school-masters,  in  London. 

In  1646,  he  became  the  regular  preacher  at  St. 
Paul's,  Covent-garden,  where  he  was  much  followed, 
and  is  said  to  have  been  instrumental  in  the  conver- 
sion of  many  souls ;  and  was  ever  active  and  zealous 
in  promoting  the  cause  of  reformation. 

When  his  health  began  to  fail,  he  resigned  his 
charge,  and  retired  to  Marlborough,  his  native  place, 
where  he  departed  this  life,  January,  1658,  aged 
fifty-seven  years. 

He  was  esteemed  a  learned  divine,  and  an  ortho- 
dox and  admired  preacher. 

The  writings  of  Mr.  Sedgwick  are, 

1.  Military  Discipline,  for  a  Christian  Soldier. 

2.  Christ's  Counsel  to  his  languishing  Church  of 
Sardis. 

3.  England's  Preservation; — before  the  House  of 
Commons. 

4.  Haman's  Vanity;  a  thanksgiving  sermon,  be- 
fore the  House  of  Commons.  Esther  ix.  1. 

5.  A  thanksgiving  sermon,  from  Psal.  iii.  8. 

6.  An  Ark  against  a  Deluge;  or  Safety  in  Dan- 
gerous Times; — before  the  House  of  Commons. 

7.  The  Nature  and  Danger  of  Heresies;  before 
the  House  of  Commons. 

8.  Speech  in  Guildhall.  1643. 

9.  The  Best  and  Worst  Malignant. 

10.  Christ  the  Life,  and  Death  the  Gain;  a  funeral 
sermon. 


WEST3IIXSTER    ASSEMBLY.  371 

11.  The  Doubting  Christian  Resolved. 

12.  Elisha's  Lamentation^  upon  the  Translation  of 
EHjah. 

13.  The  Humbled  Sinner  resolved  what  he  shall 
do  to  be  saved. 

14.  The  Fountain  Opened,  and  the  Water  of  Life 
flowing  freely. 

15.  The  riches  of  Grace  displayed  in  the  offer  of 
salvation  to  poor  sinners. 

16.  The  Shepherd  of  Israel;  or  God's  Pastoral  care 
over  his  people. 

17.  The  Anatomy  of  Secret  Sins. 

18.  The  Parable  of  the  Prodigal. 

19.  The  Bowels  of  Tender  Mercy  Sealed,  in  the 
Everlasting  Covenant. 

20.  Synopsis  of  Christianity. 

21.  A  Catechism. 

Simpson,  Sidrach,  B.  D.,  minister  in  London,  and 
member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster, 
was  educated  in  the  University  of  Cambridge.  He 
was  for  a  time  curate  of  Margaret's  Church,  but  by 
the  intemperate  zeal  of  Laud,  he,  with  several  other 
eminent  ministers,  was  obliged  to  fly  his  country  in 
1635.  Among  these  were  the  five  brethren,  Good- 
win, Burroughs,  Bridge,  Nye,  and  Simpson,  who  were 
called  the  five  pillars  of  independency  in  the  Assem- 
bly, and  were  denominated  the  dissenting  brethren. 
In  Holland,  he  went  to  Rotterdam,  where  upon  seeing 
the  order  of  the  English  Church  under  Mr.  Bridge, 
he  applied  to  be  received  as  a  member ;  but  after  a 
while  he  began  to  discover  what  he  thought  faulty, 
and  proposed,  that  after  sermon  liberty  should  be 
granted  to  the  brethren  to  speak,  and  propose  their 
doubts,  &c.  This  proposal  was  not  relished  by  JNIr. 
Bridge,  and  was  the  occasion  of  a  difference  between 
him  and  Mr.  Simpson;  the  latter  ultimately  separated 
himself  from  the  society  and  set  up  another  church, 
of  which  he  became  the  pastor,  which  was  small  in 
the  commencement,  but  increased  beyond  expecta- 
tion. 


372  BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

About  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  Mr.  Simp- 
son returned  to  England,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster  in  1643,  and 
was  in  constant  attendance  through  the  whole  ses- 
sions. In  all  their  debates  he  conducted  himself  with 
great  temper  and  moderation. 

In  the  year  1645  he  was  appointed  on  the  "com- 
mittee of  accommodation."  In  1650,  he  was  ap- 
pointed master  of  Pembroke-Hall,  Cambridge,  in  the 
place  of  Mr.  Richard  Vines,  who  was  ejected  for  re- 
fusing the  '^engagement."  In  1654  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  to  draw  up  a  list  of  fundamental 
articles  of  religion,  to  be  presented  to  parliament.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  Triers,  to  whom  it  belonged  to 
examine  and  approve  public  preachers.  In  1655, 
Mr.  Simpson  was  appointed  by  Cromwell  one  of  the 
new  visiters  of  the  University  of  Cambridge.  While 
attending  the  Assembly,  he  gathered  a  congregation 
in  London,  organized  upon  his  own  independent 
plan. 

Mr.  Simpson  had  the  character  of  being  a  divine  of 
considerable  learning  and  of  a  very  peaceable  tem- 
per, and  was  a  celebrated  preacher. 

In  his  last  illness  he  was,  for  a  season,  left  in  spiri- 
tual darkness  and  great  discouragement;  some  of  his 
brethren  having  met  at  his  house  to  unite  in  prayer 
in  his  behalf,  their  efforts  were  not  in  vain,  for  just  as 
they  were  about  to  separate, he  cried  out, "  He  is  come, 
he  is  come,"  and  died  that  night,  165S. 

He  has  left  but  one  sermon  in  print,  preached  be- 
fore the  House  of  Commons,  and  entitled,  "  Reforma- 
tion's, Preservation,"  from  Isaiah  iv.  6. 

Smith,  Peter,  D.  D.,  was  minister  of  the  gospel  at 
Backway,  Hertfordshire,  England,  whence  he  was 
called  to  attend  on  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  West- 
minster. He  seems  to  have  been  a  person  of  consider- 
able abilities  and  literary  attainments,  if  we  may  judge 
from  his  sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons  from 
Psalm  evil.  6, May  29,  1644,  at  their  monthly  fast.  The 
author  has  added  learned  marginal  notes  to  this  dis- 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  373 

course,  and  seems  to  have  been  well  skilled  in  Greek 
and  Hebrew  literature.  He  preached  also  before  the 
House  of  LorLS,  but  the  sernicn  delivered  on  that  oc- 
casion was  never  printed.  He  was  one  of  the  com- 
mittee to  examine  and  approve  of  ministers,  who 
were  applicants  for  sequestered  livings,  and  in  the 
year  1645,  was  chosen  one  of  the  "  committee  of  ac- 
commodation." 

He  was  of  the  number  of  those  divines  of  the  As- 
sembly who  subscribed  the  declaration,  "  that  Jesus 
Christ,  as  King  of  the  Church,  has  himself  appointed 
a  church  government  distinct  from  the  civil  magis- 
trate." 

The  history  of  his  birth  and  education,  and  other 
particulars  of  his  life,  are  not  recorded. 

Spurstowe,  William,  D.  D.,  was  the  son  of  a  mer- 
chant in  London,  and  received  his  education  in  Kath- 
erine-hall,  Cambridge,  of  which  he  was  for  some  time 
fellow.  He  became  afterwards  minister  of  Hampden, 
in  Buckinghamshire.  In  the  civil  war  he  took  part 
with  the  parliament,  and  was  chaplain  to  the  cele- 
brated John  Hampden,  under  the  Earl  of  Essex.  In 
1643  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines 
at  Westminster,  and  is  represented  as  constantly  at- 
tending. About  this  time  he  becam.e  pastor  of  Hack- 
ney, and  was  appointed  on  the  committee  for  the  exa- 
mination and  approbation  of  candidates  for  the  se- 
questered livings.  He  sometimes  preached  before  the 
parliament,  and  was  appointed  master  of  Katharine- 
hall  in  Cambridge;  here  he  took  the  degree  of  D.  D., 
but  upon  his  refusing  "  the  engagement,"  he  was 
ejected.  He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  confer 
with  the  King  at  the  Isle  of  Wight;  and  was  ejected 
from  his  charge  of  Hackney  in  1662.  He  remained, 
however,  about  Hackney  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred when  he  was  far  advanced  in  years,  in  1666; 
he  lived  through  the  plague  but  died  soon  after- 
wards. 

Doctor  Spurstowe  was  eminently  distinguished  for 


374  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES, 

learning,  humility,  charity,  and  a  cheerful  conversa- 
tion. 

Mr.  Baxter  had  a  great  esteem  for  him,  and  was  in 
the  habit  of  seeking  retirement  at  his  house  when  he 
had  some  great  literary  labour  to  perform. 

Doctor  Spurstowe's  writings: 

1.  England's  Pattern  and  Duty  in  its  Monthly 
Fasts;  a  sermon  before  both  houses  of  Parliament  at 
an  extraordinary  fast,  from  1  Sam.  vii.  6,  July  21, 
1643. 

2.  England's  Eminent  Judgments,  caused  by  the 
abuse  of  God's  eminent  mercies,  before  the  House  of 
Peers,  from  Ezra  ix.  13,  14. 

3.  The  Magistrate's  Dignity  and  Duty,  a  sermon 
before  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  the  city  of 
London,  from  Psal.  Ixxxii.  2. 

4.  Death  and  the  Grave  no  bar  to  a  believer's  hap- 
piness ;  a  funeral  Sermon  from  Psal.  xvii.  15. 

5.  The  Wells  of  Salvation  opened,  or  a  treatise  of 
the  nature,  preciousness,  and  usefulness  of  the  gospel 
promises,  and  rules  for  the  right  application  of  them. 

6.  The  Spiritual  Chymist,  or  Six  Decades  of  Divine 
Meditations. 

7.  The  Wiles  of  Satan;  on  2  Cor.  xvii.  11. 

Staunton,  Edmund,  D.  D.,  was  born  at  Woburne, 
in  the  year  1600,  and  was  the  son  of  Sir  Francis 
Staunton,  who  took  care  of  his  education.  He  was  ad- 
mitted while  very  young  into  Corpus  Christi  College, 
Oxford.  His  proficiency  in  learning  was  great,  for 
while  an  under  graduate  he  was  chosen  a  proba- 
tioner fellow  in  preference  to  eighteen  competitors. 

When  about  eighteen  years  of  age  he  fell  danger- 
ously sick,  and  was  very  near,  in  all  appearance,  to 
death,  when  another  physician  being  called,  saw  that 
he  was  afflicted  with  the  pleurisy  and  opened  a  vein, 
on  which  he  was  relieved.  His  life  was  providen- 
tially preserved  on  another  occasion,^  when  he  was 
near  being  drowned,  for  having  gone  into  a  stream  to 
bathe,  he  suddenly  stepped  into  a  deep  hole,  and  not 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  d  i  O 

being  able  to  swim  he  went  to  the  bottom;  but  find- 
ing a  tuft  of  grass  on  the  side  of  the  bank  near  to 
which  he  was,  he  raised  liimself  up,  and  his  life  was 
preserved.  Soon  after  these  deliverances  he  became 
deeply  exercised  in  religion,  and  was  hopefully  re- 
newed in  the  spirit  of  his  mind.  When  he  had  taken 
his  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  his  father  gave  him  his 
choice  of  the  three  learned  professions,  upon  which 
he  chose  the  ministry,  saying,  "  that  he  esteemed 
turning  souls  to  righteousness  the  most  desirable  work 
in  the  world,  and  that  it  would  have  the  greatest  re- 
ward hereafter,  though  the  other  professions  bring  in 
more  wealth  and  honour  in  this  world." 

He  first  exercised  his  ministry  at  Witney,  Oxford- 
shire, where  he  had  souls  given  to  him  for  his  hire; 
and  his  preaching  was  so  popular  that  people  flocked 
from  all  parts  to  hear  him.  The  incumbent,  who 
read  prayers  in  the  morning,  was  no  how  pleased  to 
see  so  many  people  coming  to  hear  Mr.  Staunton, 
and  would  not  honour  the  sermon  with  his  presence, 
for  when  prayers  were  ended  he  would  hasten  away. 
Mr.  Staunton,  for  a  while,  preached  a  succession  of 
sermons  on  <*  buy  the  truth  and  sell  it  not.''  When 
the  old  parson  met  any  one  coming  in  he  would  say, 
"ah,  are  you  going  to  buy  the  trufh?" 

From  Witney  he  removed  to  Bushey,  where  he 
was  cordially  welcomed  by  all  who  had  any  sense  of 
religion,  and  here  also  his  labours  were  blessed.  Dr. 
Seaton  wishing  for  the  parish  of  Bushey  for  himself, 
his  attorney  found  some  flaw  in  Mr.  Staunton's  set- 
tlement, and  ousted  him,  but  afterwards  resigned  to 
him  his  right  to  the  parish  of  Kingston  on  the  Thames, 
in  Surrey.  Here  he  remained  for  twenty  years,  la- 
bouring with  untiring  assiduity  and  fidelity,  and  was 
the  means  of  producing  a  general  reformation  in  the 
town,  both  among  the  high  and  low;  many  persons 
acknowledged  him  as  their  spiritual  father. 

One  day  while  preaching  in  London,  a  man  whose 
house  was  near,  ran  home  and  brought  his  wife,  say- 
ing, that  there  was  a  man  in  the  pulpit  who  prayed 
like  an  angel.    The  sermon  which  followed  this  prayer 


376  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

was  the  means  of  the  conversion  of  this  woman,  of 
which  she  gave  evidence  in  all  her  after  Hfe. 

His  preaching  was  remarkably  plain,  affectionate, 
and  practical.  His  manner  was  so  affectionate  that 
he  seemed  ready  to  impart,  not  the  gospel  only,  but 
even  his  own  soul  to  his  hearers;  his  applications 
were  full  of  life  and  animation.  He  was  called  "the 
searching  preacher;"  for  seldom  did  he  deliver  a  ser- 
mon in  which  he  would  not  have  some  marks  of  trial 
or  examination.  He  was  desirous  to  be  ever  at  work, 
fearing  above  all  things  lest  he  should  at  last  hear 
Christ  say,  "  thou  wicked  and  slothful  servant.'^  And 
when  he  visited  his  brethren  he  would  say,  "is  there 
no  work  here  for  a  preacher?'^  By  his  second  wife  he 
had  ten  children,  who  were  all  buried  before  him  in 
one  grave,  and  when  he  died  he  left  but  one  son. 

In  1635  he  was  cast  out  of  his  living  for  refusing 
to  read  the  book  of  sports.  During  the  vacation  which 
he  now  enjoyed,  he  went  and  took  his  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Divinity  in  honour,  he  said,  of  his  afflictions. 

Doctor  Staunton  was  an  active  and  useful  member 
of  the  Westminster  Assembly,  and  was  frequently 
called  upon  to  preach  before  the  Parliament,  and  was 
one  of  the  six  lecturers  appointed  to  preach  in  West- 
minster Abbey  in  the  morning. 

In  1648,  when  the  visiters  of  the  University  of  Ox- 
ford dismissed  Dr.  Newlin  from  the  headship  of  Cor- 
pus Christi  College,  Dr.  Staunton  was  put  in  his  place, 
where  he  continued  for  twelve  years,  and  until  he 
was  ejected  by  the  king's  commissioners,  after  the 
restoration  in  the  year  1660.  While  president  of  this 
College  he  greatly  promoted  piety  and  good  order, 
and  wherever  he  resided,  preaching  was  his  delight; 
and  he  would  often  go  out  into  the  country  and  preach 
to  the  destitute  parishes.  He  held  a  weekly  meeting 
at  his  own  house  for  prayer  and  spiritual  conference, 
to  which  serious  persons  of  other  Colleges  resorted. 
He  was  constant  in  his  attendance  at  the  worship  of 
the  College  chapel  morning  and  evening,  and  by  his 
efforts  and  example  greatly  promoted  the  sanctifica- 
tion  of  the  Lord's  day.     While  in  the  University  he 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  377 

was  of  great  service  to  serious  young  men  who  were 
seeking  the  ministry,  and  many  who  were  afterwards 
eminently  useful  were  trained  under  his  ministry  and 
instructions,  one  of  whom  may  be  mentioned,  Mr. 
Joseph  Alleine,  so  well  known  by  his  excellent  prac- 
tical discourses.  When  dismissed  from  the  Univer- 
sity, he  sought  places  where  he  could  be  useful  in  the 
exercise  of  his  ministry;  and  even  after  the  passing 
of  the  act  of  uniformity  he  laboured  in  private,  and 
almost  every  week  attended  a  fast  in  his  own  house 
or  that  of  some  other  person.  After  this  he  did  not 
remain  long  stationary,  but  went  from  place  to  place, 
as  he  found  opportunities  of  doing  good.  His  motto 
was,  "  woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not  the  gospel;"  and  as 
if  he  could  not  preach  to  multitudes  in  the  church  he 
would  preach  to  a  few  in  the  chamber,  and  did  much 
good  by  the  distribution  of  rehgious  books. 

Doctor  Staunton's  natural  disposition  was  uncom- 
monly sweet  and  amiable,  and  when  embellished  by 
the  grace  of  God  he  was  exceedingly  pleasant  and 
useful  in  his  conversation.  He  was  much  given  to 
self-examination,  and  was  very  careful  to  ascertain 
the  true  state  of  his  own  heart,  and  had  the  happi- 
ness of  finding,  upon  the  closest  and  most  impartial 
scrutiny,  that  he  had  the  witness  in  himself. 

Like  many  other  pious  men,  Dr.  Staunton  kept  a 
journal  or  diary  of  God's  dealings  with  him,  and  of 
the  state  of  his  heart  from  day  to  day.  From  this  his 
biographer,  Mr.  Mayo,  has  been  able  to  derive  many 
particulars  of  his  interior  life;  but  he  was  intimately 
acquainted  with  him,  and  gives  this  testimony,  "  that 
he  was  the  most  given  to  prayer  of  any  Christian  that 
he  was  ever  acquainted  with,  and  when  he  prayed, 
whether  in  private  or  socially,  he  very  commonly 
wept.  It  was  his  custom  always  to  pray  kneeling, 
however  inconvenient  it  might  be,  for  he  was  wont 
to  say  "the  humblest  posture  was  the  most  suitable 
for  prayer."  His  observance  of  the  Lord^s  day  was 
so  strict  that  many  censured  him;  but  he  would  say, 
"  we  must  always  be  good  husbands  of  time,  espe- 
cially of  holy  time ;  we  must  not  spend  that  which  is 


378 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


not  our  own  about  our  own  business."  "Spiritual 
pride,"  he  said,  "  was  the  besetting  sin  of  young  mi- 
nisters ;"  and  he  relates  an  instance  in  which  he  was 
himself  greatly  endangered  by  it,  but  by  betaking 
himself  to  fasting  and  prayer  he  obtained  the  victory. 
The  study  of  the  Scriptures  was  his  constant  employ- 
ment, so  that  he  was  perfectly  familiar  with  the  sacred 
volume,  and  could  immediately  turn  to  any  passage 
which  was  referred  to.  In  nothing,  however,  did 
this  eminent  servant  of  Jesus  Christ  more  excel,  than 
in  religious  conference ;  for  this  he  had  a  peculiar 
talent,  as  was  experienced  by  those  who  had  the 
pleasure  of  his  conversation.  He  seldom  met  any 
one  casually  on  the  way  without  saying  something 
which  might  be  spiritually  profitable.  His  patience 
under  afflictions  was  truly  admirable;  he  suffered 
considerably  but  was  never  discomposed,  nor  uttered 
a  single  complaint.  When  in  health  his  conversa- 
tion was  often  facetious,  that  he  might  attract  people 
to  him  and  have  the  opportunity  of  instructing  them. 
His  last  sickness  was  the  palsy,  which  affected  one 
side  and  prevented  him  from  talking  much;  but  he 
said  to  a  friend,  "  I  neither  fear  death  nor  desire  life, 
but  am  willing  to  be  at  God's  disposal."  He  died 
on  the  14th  of  July,  1671,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age. 
His  modesty  was  such  that  he  was  always  unwilling 
that  any  production  of  his  pen  should  be  published; 
He  did,  however,  consent  that  his  "Christian  Confer- 
ence" should  be  put  to  press,  and  the  Parliament  or- 
dered several  of  his  sermons  preached  before  them  to 
be  published.  As  far  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  Dr. 
Staunton's  published  writings  are  the  following: 

1.  Rupes  Israelis — The  Rock  of  Israel;  before  the 
House  of  Commons  at  their  monthly  fast ;  Deut. 
xxxii.  31;  April  24,  1644. 

2.  Phineas'  Zeal,  or  a  Divine  Remedy  for  Eng- 
land's Misery;  preached  before  the  House  of  Lords, 
October  30,  1644. 

3.  A  sermon  at  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wil- 
kinson. 

4.  A  Treatise  of  Christian  Conference. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  ^79 

5.  A  Dialogue  between  a  minister  and  a  stranger 
about  soul-afFairs. 

SterrYj  Peter,  B.  D.,  one  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  was  born  in  Surrey,  Eng- 
land, and  educated  in  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge, 
where,  in  1636,  he  was  chosen  fellow.  Having 
finished  his  studies  in  the  University  he  entered  the 
ministry ;  during  the  civil  war  he  was  a  strenuous 
advocate  of  the  cause  of  the  Parliament.  In  the  year 
1643,  he  was  called  up  to  the  Assembly  of  Divines, 
and  is  said  to  have  given  constant  attendance;  on 
some  occasions  he  preached  before  the  Parliament. 

He  was  intimate  with  Sir  Henry  Vane,  and  is  said 
to  have  been  deeply  tinctured  with  mysticism.  In 
the  year  1654,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Triers  of 
ministers.  The  protector  not  liking  that  the  Presby- 
teries should  have  the  sole  power  of  examining  and 
judging  of  candidates  for  the  ministry,  appointed  triers 
of  his  own  selection.  These  commissioners  were 
thirty-eight  in  number,  among  whom  were  eight  or 
nine  laymen  ;  any  five  were  sufficient  to  approve,  but 
it  required  nine  to  reject  a  candidate. 

Mr.  Sterry's  only  writings  are, 

1.  The  Spirit's  Conviction  of  Sin  Opened. 

2.  The  Clouds  in  which  Christ  comes. 

Strickland,  John,  B.  D.,  was  born  in  the  county  of 
Westmoreland  of  an  ancient  and  honourable  family, 
and  was  educated  at  Queen's  College,  Oxford.  After 
taking  his  degrees  in  the  arts  he  entered  the  holy 
ministry,  and  became  chaplain  to  the  Earl  of  Hert- 
ford. In  1632,  he  took  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Di- 
vinity, and  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of  Middleton 
in  Somersetshire.  He  was  chosen  one  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  seems  to  have 
been  constant  in  his  attendance.  Wood  reviles  him 
exceedingly,  but  Dr.  Calamy  defends  him.  He  be- 
came, after  the  Assembly  was  over,  pastor  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's Church  in  Salisbury.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
eminently  distinguished  as  an  expositor  of  Scripture, 


380 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


and  a  skilful  casuist.  In  1654,  Mr.  Strickland  was 
made  assistant  to  the  commissioners  for  ejecting  ig- 
norant and  scandalous  ministers  and  schoolmasters 
in  the  county  of  Wilts. 

He  was  among  the  ejected  ministers  on  the  fatal 
Bartholomew  day,  but  he  continued  to  preach  after  his 
ejectment,  as  he  had  opportunity. 

He  died  in  October,  1670,  very  suddenly,  on  the 
very  day  that  he  had  preached  and  administered  the 
Lord's  Supper. 

His  memory  was  long  held  in  honour  at  Sarum, 
and  Dr.  Calamy  always  speaks  of  him  as  "a  great 
divine,  and  generally  esteemed,"  and  also  a  very  faith- 
ful preacher. 

Mr.  Strickland's  publications  are, 

1.  God's  Worksof  Mercy  in  Zion's  Misery;  a  ser- 
mon before  the  House  of  Commons. 

2.  A  Discovery  of  Peace,  or  the  thoughts  of  the 
Almighty  for  the  ending  of  the  people's  calamities. 

3.  Immanuel,  or  the  Church  triumphing  in  God 
with  us;  a  sermon  before  the  House  of  Lords  from 
Psalm  xlvi.  7. 

4.  Mercy  rejoicing  against  Judgment,  or  God  wait- 
ing to  be  gracious  to  a  sinful  nation;  a  sermon  before 
the  House  of  Commons. 

In  his  dedicatory  epistle  to  the  House  of  Commons, 
he  gives  them  excellent  advice  about  public  schools, 
the  reformation  of  the  universities,  and  about  settling 
ministers  in  the  northern  counties  of  the  kingdom. 

Taylor,  Francis,  B.  D.,  a  member  of  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and  sometime  rec- 
tor of  Chapham,in  Surrey,  and  afterward  of  Yalding, 
m  Kent.  He  was  called  to  the  Assembly  at  its  first 
opening,  was  constant  in  his  attendance,  and  emi- 
nently distinguished  for  his  learning  and  moderation. 
He  was  afterward  settled  in  Canterbury  as  preacher 
of  Christ's  Church.  He  left  behind  him  the  reputa- 
tion of  an  able  critic  and  a  profound  theologian.  Mr. 
Neal  says,  "he  was  one  of  the  most  considerable  di- 
vines of  the  Assembly."     And  Mr.  Edward  Leigh 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  381 

testifies,  "  that  he  was  a  learned  linguist  and  a  wor- 
thy divine/'  His  death  occurred  about  the  time  of 
the  restoration.  He  had  a  son  in  the  ministry,  who, 
though  totally  blind,  became  a  considerable  preacher. 
Dr.  Calamy  says,  "he  had  an  enlightened  mind, 
though  a  dark  body."  His  son  was  ejected  in  1662 
from  a  church  in  Canterbury  for  non-conformity.  He 
was  cheerful  under  his  afflictions,  and  he  published  a 
httle  book  entitled, ''  Grapes  from  Canaan,  or  the  be- 
liever's present  taste  of  future  glory. 
Mr.  Taylor's  publications: 

1.  Faith  of  the  Church  of  England. 

2.  God's  Covenant,  the  Church's  Plea;  a  sermon 
from  Psalm  Ixxiv.  20,  before  the  House  of  Commons 
on  a  solemn  fast-day. 

3.  The  Danger  of  Vows  Neglected,  and  the  neces- 
sity of  reformation;  a  sermon  before  the  House  of 
Peers  from  Gen.  xxxv.  1. 

4.  God's  Glory  in  Man's  Happiness. 

5.  God's  Choice  and  Man's  Diligence. 

6.  On  Justification. 

7.  Opuscula  Rabbinica. 

8.  Targum  Prius  et  Posterius  in  Estheram. 

9.  Tractatus  De  Patribus,  Rab.  Nathane  Autore. 

10.  Capitula  Patrum. 

11.  Examen  Prsefationis  Morini. 

12.  An  Exposition  of  the  first  nine  chapters  of  the 
Proverbs. 

Temple,  Thomas,  D.  D.,  brother  of  Sir  John,  was 
some  time  a  fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin;  after- 
wards he  resided  in  Lincoln  College,  Oxford;  and  then 
was  minister,  first  at  Winwick  in  Northamptonshire, 
and  tlien  at  Battersea  in  Surrey.  When  the  civil  war 
commenced  he  sided  with  the  Parliament,  and  was 
appointed  one  of  the  licensers  of  books,  and  a  member 
of  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  and  is  said  to  have  been  a 
constant  attendant.  He  was  one  of  the  committee 
for  the  examination  and  approbation  of  ministers, 
who  were  candidates  for  the  sequestered  livings;  he 
was  also  on  the  "committee  of  accommodation."    In 


382  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

all  these  offices  he  was  eminently  distinguished  for 
his  learning  and  moderation. 

He  preached  frequently  before  the  Long  Parlia- 
ment, and  a  few  of  his  sermons  on  those  occasions 
are  extant  in  print;  one  of  them  is  entitled,  *•'  Christ's 
Government  in  and  over  his  People,"  from  Psalm 
ii.  6.,  dehvered  before  the  Commons  at  a  public  fast ; 
an  excellent  sermon.  Further  particulars  of  the  life 
and  death  of  this  distinguished  man  are  wanting. 

Tesdale,  Christopher. — A  member  of  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  received  his  edu- 
cation at  New  College,  Oxford,  where  he  proceeded 
Master  of  Arts  in  164S,  and  having  entered  into  holy 
orders  he  became  pastor  of  a  church  in  Southampton, 
and  in  1643  he  was  chosen  to  sit  in  the  Assembly  of 
Divines,  and  is  marked  in  Neal's  list  as  constant  in 
his  attendance.  He  has  published  a  sermon  entitled, 
"  Hierusalem,  a  Vision  of  Peace;"  preached  before 
the  House  of  Commons,  Psal.  cxxii.  6. 

Thorowgood,  Thomas,  B.  D.,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  University  of  Cambridge,  where  he  pro- 
ceeded Master  of  Arts,  and  afterwards  Bachelor  of 
Divinity.  He  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Parliament, 
and  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines 
at  Westminster. 

His  publications  are : 

1.  Moderation  justified;  before  the  honourable 
House  of  Commons. 

2.  Jews  in  America,  or  Probabilities  that  Ameri- 
cans are  of  that  race. 

^  He  urges  reasons  for  endeavouring  to  convert  the 
aborigines  of  America,  and  answers  objections. 

The  above  opinion  has  since  been  strongly  main- 
tained by  several,  and  especially  Dr.  Boudinot,  of 
Burlington,  New  Jersey. 

TucKNEY,  Anthony,  D.  D.,  was  born  about  three 
miles  from  Boston  in  Lincolnshire,  September,  1599, 
and  was  educated  in  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge. 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  383 

After  taking  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  he  became 
chaplain  to  the  Earl  of  Lincohi ;  but  upon  being  cho- 
sen fellow  of  his  College,  he  returned  to  the  Univer- 
sity until  he  commenced  Bachelor  of  Divinity;  du- 
ring this  time  he  was  an  able  and  conscientious  tutor. 
He  trained  up  many  pupils,  who  afterwards  became 
eminent  both  in  church  and  state,  and  remembered 
their  tutor  with  much  esteem. 

Upon  the  invitation  of  the  people  of  Boston,  he  left 
the  University  and  became  assistant  to  the  celebrated 
John  Cotton,  and  upon  Mr.  Cotton's  removal  to  Ame- 
rica, he  succeeded  him  in  1633.  While  he  resided 
here  a  pestilence  occurred  in  the  place,  and  he  met 
with  some  disturbance  from  the  spiritual  courts. 

In  1643  Dr.  Tuckney  was  called  up  to  London  to 
sit  in  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  and  as  the  times  were 
troublesome  he  removed  his  family  to  London,  and 
never  returned  to  reside  any  more  at  Boston.  At  the 
request  of  the  people,  however,  he  retained  his  title 
until  the  restoration,  when  he  resigned  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  celebrated  John  Howe;  but  though  he 
retained  the  title,  he  received  none  of  the  profits  after 
he  left  his  people.  He  was  very  highly  esteemed  in 
the  Assembly,  and  was  constant  in  his  attendance. 
He  belonged  both  to  the  committee  of  examination  of 
ministers,  and  to  the  "  committee  of  accommodation." 
But  his  most  memorable  service  in  that  Assembly 
was,  the  part  which  he  took  in  drawing  up  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  and  Catechisms.  Many  of  the  an- 
swers in  the  "  Larger  Catechism"  are  said  to  have 
been  composed  by  him,  especially  the  exquisite  expo- 
sition of  the  commandments,  were  for  the  most  part, 
in  his  very  words. 

After  residing  in  London  some  time,  he  was  settled 
minister  of  Michael-Quern,  Cheapside,  where  he  con- 
tinued till  1648;  except  that  after  he  was  appointed 
master  of  Emanuel  College,  he  spent  some  months  of 
every  year  at  Cambridge,  until  in  1648  he  removed 
his  family  thither,  and  was  that  year  made  vice-chan- 
cellor of  the  University.     When  Dr.  Arrowsmith  was 


384 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


chosen  master  of  Trinity  College,  Dr.  Tuckney  was 
made  master  of  St  John's,  and  succeeded  the  former 
as  royal  professor  of  Divinity. 

Doctor  Tuckney  was  distinguished  for  firmness  and 
unshaken  courage,  and  was  eminent  at  the  same  time 
for  his  humihty.  He  is  said  to  have  possessed  the  art 
of  governing  youth  in  a  high  degree,  so  that  many 
gentlemen  sent  their  sons  to  his  College  on  that  ac- 
count. 

After  the  restoration,  Dr.  Tuckney  was  one  of  the 
commissioners  of  the  Savoy;  but  when  he  saw  how 
things  were  conducted,  he  abandoned  all  hope  of  an 
accommodation.  Indeed  before  the  conferences  were 
expired  he  received  a  request  from  the  king  to  resign 
all  his  preferments  in  the  University,  which  he  imme- 
diately did,  and  the  king  promised  him  a  hundred 
pounds  from  his  successor  during  his  natural  life. 
Upon  leaving  the  University,  he  retired  with  his  fa- 
mily to  London,  where  he  remained  until  1665,  when, 
on  account  of  the  plague,  he  lived  at  Colwick-hall, 
near  Nottingham.  After  the  passing  of  the  five-mile 
act,  he  shifted  about  from  place  to  place. 

In  the  dreadful  fire  of  London,  Dr.  Tuckney  lost 
his  library.  His  latter  years  he  spent  in  or  near  to 
London,  and  died  February,  1670.  He  has  left  be- 
hind him  the  character  of  an  eminently  learned  and 
pious  man,  a  candid  disputant,  and  an  eminent  pro- 
moter of  the  cause  of  truth  and  Godliness. 

Dr.  Tuckney's  published  writings: 

1.  The  Balm  of  Gilead  for  the  wounds  of  England; 
a  fast  sermon  before  the  Commons;  Jer.  viii.  22. 

2.  Death  Disarmed,  and  the  grave  swallowed  up 
in  victory;  a  funeral  discourse  for  Dr.  Thomas  Hill; 
1  Cor.  XV.  55. 

3.  None  but  Christ ;  a  sermon  preached  at  Cam- 
bridge on  commencement  Sabbath;  to  which  is  an- 
nexed an  "  Inquiry  respecting  the  ground  of  hope  for 
Heathen,  Jews,  infants,  idiots,  &.c." 

4.  A  good  day  well  improved. 

5.  Forty  sermons  on  various  occasions. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  385 

6.  Preelectiones  Theologicse ;  to  which  is  annexed 
a  dissertation  against  propagating  rehgion  by  the 
sword. 

TwissE,  William,  D.  D.,  was  born  near  Newbury, 
in  Berkshire,  England.  His  grandfather  was  a  Ger- 
man, who  had,  on  some  occasion,  come  over  to  Eng- 
land. His  father  was  a  substantial  clothier,  who  sent 
his  son  to  Westminster  School,  whence,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  he  was  translated  to  New  College,  Oxford, 
of  which  he  became  fellow.  Here,  for  sixteen  suc- 
cessive years,  he  appHed  himself  to  study  most  assi- 
duously. In  1604,  he  proceeded  Master  of  Arts,  and 
about  the  same  time  entered  into  holy  orders,  and 
became  a  diligent  preacher  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
He  was  esteemed  a  popular  preacher  in  the  Univer- 
sity; and,  although  some  thought  his  discourses  too 
scholastic,  they  were  attended  v/ith  power  and  suc- 
cess. His  character  in  the  university  stood  high,  not 
only  as  a  man  of  extensive  learning  and  great  acute- 
ness,  but  also  on  account  of  his  holy,  exem.plary  con- 
versation. In  the  year  1614,  he  took  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  after  having  given  ample  proof  of 
his  abilities,  in  his  Catechetical  Lectures  in  the  Col- 
lege Chapel,  in  his  public  disputations,  and  in  revis- 
ing the  writings  of  the  famous  Dr.  Thomas  Brad- 
wardine,  about  to  be  published  by  Sir  Henry  Saville. 

Dr.  Twisse's  reputation  continued  to  increase  until 
it  reached  the  court,  so  that  King  James  selected  him 
as  a  suitable  chaplain  for  his  daughter  Elizabeth, 
the  Princess  Palatine,  who  was  soon  to  remove  to 
Germany,  whither  he  accompanied  her.  On  the 
journey  he  made  it  a  daily  practice  to  expound  the 
Scriptures,  with  which  pious  exercises  the  Princess 
was  well  pleased,  especially  as  they  served  to  soothe 
her  sorrow  in  leaving  her  native  country,  and  her 
friends.  And  as  he  inculcated  upon  her  the  belief  in 
a  particular  Providence,  and  directed  her  to  the  true 
sources  of  pleasure,  and  taught  her  that  all  things 
work  together  for  the  good  of  those  who  love  God, 
his  instructions  were  well  suited  to  prepare  her  for 

25 


386 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


those  heavy  afflictions  which  soon  she  was  called  to 
endure. 

Upon  his  return  to  England  he  devoted  himself  to 
such  studies  as  seemed  to  him  best  adapted  to  qualify 
him  to  glorify  God,  by  expounding  his  word,  and  de- 
fending his  truth.  Truly  he  sought  no  great  things 
for  himself  in  this  world,  for  he  settled  down  in  a 
country  village,  and  poor  house,  where  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  those  great  works  which  have  render- 
ed his  name  so  famous  in  the  Reformed  Churches. 
After  some  time,  he  was  made  Vicar  of  Newbury, 
where  he  acquired  a  high  reputation  for  his  useful 
preaching,  and  holy  life;  and  so  he  became  a  burn- 
ing and  a  shining  light,  in  the  very  region  where  the 
hght  of  this  world  first  dawned  upon  him.  He  never 
aspired  after  riches,  nor  ecclesiastical  dignities,  but 
rather  gloried  in  his  retired  and  obscure  situation,  as 
being  less  exposed  to  temptations,  which  always  be- 
set those  who  are  advanced  to  high  honours  in  the 
world.  He  not  only  did  not  seek  preferment,  but 
when  offered  to  him  he  declined  it.  So  he  declined 
being  Warden  of  the  College  at  Winchester,  although 
the  office  was  very  lucrative,  and  afterwards  refused 
a  Prebend  of  Winchester;  thus  evincing,  by  his  con- 
duct, that  he  preferred  the  opportunities  of  retired 
study,  above  the  most  lucrative  and  honourable  sta- 
tions. He  had  also  an  invitation  to  become  Profes- 
sor of  Theology  at  Francker,  in  Friesland,  which  offer 
also  he  declined,  and  continued  at  Newbury,  until  his 
dying  day. 

When  the  Book  of  Sports  was  sent  down  he  re- 
fused to  read  it,  and  had  the  courage  to  speak  against 
it,  and  thus  subjected  himself  to  a  heavy  penalty;  but 
when  the  King  heard  of  it,  he  commanded  the  Bishops 
not  to  give  any  disturbance  to  Dr.  Twisse,  for  he 
knew  that,  though  he  lived  on  a  small  salary,  and  in 
a  poor  house,  yet  his  reputation,  by  means  of  his 
writings,  was  so  high  in  all  the  Reformed  Churches 
abroad,  that  it  would  redound  to  the  discredit  of  any 
one  who  should  treat  him  with  severity. 

In  his  preaching,  and  in  his  writing,  Dr.  Twisse 


WESTMINSTER  ASSEMBLY.  387 

faithfully  defended  the  sacredness  of  the  Lord's  Day, 
so  that  when  Charles  I.  came  to  the  throne,  and  imi- 
tated his  father,  in  his  attempts  to  desecrate,  by 
sports,  the  day  which  God  had  sanctified  for  himself. 
Dr.  Twisse  still  refused  obedience  to  these  unlawful 
injunctions,  and  went  on  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty, 
in  testifying  against  the  sin  of  Sabbath-breaking;  and 
continued  to  preach  against  the  Book  of  Sports  until 
its  authority  was  abolished.  The  height  of  his  repu- 
tation among  the  good  people  of  England,  may  be 
judged  of  from  the  fact,  that  in  1643,  when  the  As- 
sembly of  Divines  met  at  Westminster,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  both  houses  of  Parliament  to  be  the  Pro- 
locutor of  that  venerable  body,  in  which  office  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death.  He  was  very  far  from  desir- 
ing such  a  distinction,  and  would  have  avoided  it  if 
he  could,  but  it  was,  in  a  manner,  forced  upon  him. 
Wherefore,  on  the  first  day  of  their  meeting,  v/hich 
was  July  1,  1643,  he  preached  before  them;  the  two 
houses  of  Parliament  behig  present.  The  number  of 
Divines  appointed  to  meet  in  this  Assembly,  was 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty.  Upon  calling  the 
roll  on  the  first  day,  it  appeared  that  sixty-seven 
were  present.  They  did  not  appear  in  canonical 
habits,  but  dressed  in  black  coats,  and  distinguished 
by  bands.  The  object  slated,  in  the  writ  of  convoca- 
tion, was,  "the  settlement  of  Religion,  and  Church 
Government."  It  was  not  an  Assembly  called,  either 
by  the  Episcopal  or  Presbyterian  ministers,  but  the 
Parliament  selected  from  different  counties,  such  per- 
sons as  they  thought  would  be  suitable.  According- 
ly, ministers  of  different  persuasions  were  appointed. 
Among  these  were  a  number  of  Episcopalians  and 
Independents,  as  well  as  Presbyterians,  but  the  former 
refused  to  attend,  because  the  King  had  issued  a  pro- 
clamation forbidding  the  Assembly  to  meet.  This 
Assembly  met  every  day  in  the  week,  except  the  first 
and  the  last,  and  no  one  was  permitted  to  come  in,  to 
hear  the  debates,  unless  by  a  written  order  from  both 
houses  of  Parliament.  Their  daily  session  was  com- 
monly from  nine,  A.  M.  to  three,  P.  M.,  and  every 


388 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


session  was  opened  and  closed  with  prayer,  by  the 
Prolocutor.  As  there  were,  on  an  average,  about 
sixty  English  Divines  in  attendance,  it  was  agreed 
that  they  should  divide  themselves  into  three  large 
committees,  and  no  member  was  excluded  from  en- 
tering either  of  the  three.  These  committees  pre- 
pared business  for  the  Assembly,  by  writing  down 
certain  propositions,  with  the  Scripture  proofs,  which 
being  handed  in,  to  the  scribe,  were  read  before  the 
body.  On  these  propositions  they  debated,  in  a  grave, 
learned,  and  accurate  manner.  Principal  Baillie, 
one  of  the  Scotch  commissioners,  says,  in  his  letters, 
written  while  in  attendance,  "Their  harangues  are 
long  and  learned.  They  study  the  question  well  be- 
fore hand,  and  prepare  their  speeches,  but  withal  the 
men  are  exceeding  prompt,  and  well-spoken."  *'  The 
speakers  come  forward  voluntarily,  without  being 
called  upon;  and  after  discussion,  the  vote  is  taken 
by  ayes  and  noes,  and  the  decision  announced  by  the 
Prolocutor." 

The  Assembly  met  at  first  in  King  Henry  VII.'s 
Chapel;  but,  when  the  weather  began  to  grow  cold, 
they  transferred  their  sittings  to  the  Jerusalem  Cham- 
ber, in  Westminster  Abbey.  At  the  upper  end  of  this 
room  was  set  a  chair,  or  a  frame,  about  a  foot  above 
the  level  of  the  floor,  on  which  the  Prolocutor  sat; 
and  before  his  chair,  on  the  floor,  were  placed  chairs 
for  Dr.  Burgess  and  Mr.  White,  assistants  of  the  Pro- 
locutor. Before  these  again,  stood  a  table,  where 
two  scribes  had  their  places.  These  were  Mr.  By- 
field  and  Mr.  Roborough.  The  Scotch  commission- 
ers sat  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Prolocutor.  War- 
rants for  persons  to  sit  in  the  Assembly,  from  the 
Parliament,  were  addressed  to  the  Prolocutor.  When 
the  Scotch  commissioners  arrived,  which  was  some 
time  after  the  commencement  of  the  sessions.  Dr. 
Twisse,  in  the  name  of  the  Assembly,  welcomed 
them,  in  a  speech  of  considei able  length.  Dr.  Twisse, 
however,  did  not  speak  much  in  the  Assembly,  which 
some,  perhaps,  attributed  to  his  Avant  of  abilities,  and 
others,  to  the  decay  of  his  intellectual  powers  by  age, 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  389 

hut  the  true  reason  was  his  modesty  and  humility; 
and,  probably,  because  he  thought  that  frequent 
speaking  would  be  unsuitable  in  the  Prolocutor  of 
the  Assembly.  His  powers,  as  a  disputant,  could 
scarcely  be  exceeded;  and  yet  he  preferred  written 
discussion  to  that  which  was  merely  verbal.  Dr. 
Calamy  says,  "  he  was  very  famous  on  account  of 
his  learning,  wit,  and  writings."  Mr.  Baillie  informs 
us,  that  four-fifths  of  the  members  did  not  speak  at 
all,  and  among  these  were  some  Divines  who  were 
famous  in  the  world  for  their  writings  and  their  ser- 
mons. Some  men  who  can  write  well  cannot  speak, 
and  some  who  can  speak  well  are  not  fond  of  public 
speaking. 

Dr.  Twisse  was  much  disturbed  on  account  of  the 
warm  debates  in  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  and  his 
anxiety  is  supposed  to  have  impaired  his  bodily 
health,  for  it  was  easily  observed  that  his  strength 
gradually  failed,  until,  one  day  when  offering  up  the 
prayers  of  the  Assembly,  he  fell  down  in  the  pulpit, 
and  was  carried  home  and  laid  upon  his  bed,  and 
continued  to  linger  about  a  year,  when  he  died. 
During  the  time  of  his  illness  he  was  visited  by 
many  learned  and  godly  persons,  and  he  exhibited 
satisfactory  evidence  of  his  faith,  his  resignation,  and 
patience.  The  love  of  study  seems  to  have  been 
with  Dr.  Twisse  a  ruling  passion  throughout  life, 
and  it  was  strong  in  death,  for  when  he  saw  his  end 
to  be  near,  he  said,  with  animation,  and  they  were 
nearly  his  last  words,  "Now,  at  length,  I  shall  have 
leisure  to  follow  my  studies  to  all  eternity."  His 
death  occurred  about  the  20th  of  July,  1646,  in  the 
seventy-first  year  of  his  age.  At  the  request  of  the 
Assembly,  he  was  buried  in  the  Collegiate  Church  of 
St.  Peters,  Westminster,  and  his  funeral  was  attend- 
ed by  the  whole  Assembly.  The  funeral  sermon 
was  preached  by  Dr.  Harris,  from  Josh.  i.  2.  "  Moses, 
my  servant,  is  dead."  His  remains,  however,  were 
not  permitted  to  rest  in  quiet  in  the  grave,  for  in  the 
time  of  Charles  H.  they  were  dug  up,  by  order  of 
Council,  and  thrown,  with  several  others,  into  a  hole 


390 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


in  the  Church-yard  of  St.  Margaret's.  As  Dr.  Twisse 
died  in  extreme  poverty,  the  day  after  his  burial  the 
Parhament  voted  a  thousand  pounds  to  his  children 
out  of  the  public  treasury,  but  they  never  received 
this  bounty,  through  the  unfaithfuhiess  of  those  who 
should  have  paid  it,  nevertheless,  God,  by  his  Provi- 
dence, made  a  competent  provision  for  them. 

The  character  of  Dr.  Twisse  will  be  sufficient!}^  un- 
derstood from  the  circumstances  of  his  life  related 
above.  He  was  a  man  of  undissembled  humility, 
entertaining  the  deepest  sense  of  the  depravity  of  his 
nature,  and  ever  ready  to  confess  his  sins  and  imper- 
fections, and  instead  of  panting  after  the  riches  and 
honours  of  this  world,  he  gave  God  unfeigned  thanks 
that  he  had  preserved  him  from  the  temptations  and 
snares  to  which  these  would  have  exposed  him.  He 
was  more  exempt  from  envy  than  most  men  who 
ever  lived,  for  he  entertained  a  great  regard  for  all 
good  men,  and  was  ever  disposed  to  prefer  them  to 
himself,  though  in  the  opinion  of  all  others,  greatly 
his  inieriors.  He  was  strictly  religious  and  conscien- 
tious, though  not  morose,  but  frequently  facetious,  as 
will  be  evident  to  those  who  are  conversant  with  his 
writings.  It  was  his  custom  to  observe  a  monthly 
fast  in  his  family,  which  he  continued  through  life, 
and  in  his  prayers  on  this  and  other  occasions,  he 
pleaded  with  God  most  earnestly  for  his  divided  and 
bleeding  Church.  Daily,  morning  and  evening,  the 
Scriptures  were  read  in  his  family,  and  prayer  offer- 
ed at  the  throne  of  grace.  He  would  also  frequent- 
ly expound,  for  the  instruction  of  his  family,  the 
more  difficult  passages  of  Scripture. 

It  was  a  weakness  in  Dr.  Twisse  that  he  was  of 
an  easy  disposition,  which  rendered  him  liable  to  be 
deceived  by  the  designnig,  and  especially  by  such  as 
he  esteemed  to  be  pious. 

As  a  theologian  lie  was  pre-eminent  among  his 
contemporaries,  though  in  several  points  he  differed 
from  the  more  commonly  received  opinions.  In  re- 
gard to  the  order  of  the  Divine  decrees,  a  subject 
much  disputed  in  his  time,  he  adopted  the  views  of 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


391 


the  Supralapsarians;  but,  at  the  same  time  assented, 
that  the  point  of  difference  was  ^'  a  mere  logical 
nicet3^"  He  held  also,  contrary  to  the  common 
opinion,  "that  God,  by  his  absolute  sovereignty 
could  have  forgiven  sin  without  any  satisfaction,  had 
he  not  determined  otherwise  in  his  eternal  purpose;'' 
and  in  this,  Calvin,  Norton,  and  Rutherford,  go  with 
him;  but  Piscator,  Lubbertus,  and  Dr.  Owen,  have 
strenuously,  and  we  think  conclusively,  maintained 
the  contrary.  Dr.  Twisse's  zeal  was  ardent  in  de- 
fence of  the  doctrines  of  grace,  against  Arminians  and 
Jesuits.  He  wrote  most  of  his  works  in  Latin,  that 
they  might  be  read  in  foreign  countries,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  is  better  known,  and  more  highly 
appreciated,  in  other  countries  than  in  his  own.  He 
appears  to  be  perfectly  at  home  in  the  most  abstruse 
controversies,  and  disposes  of  objections  with  an  ease 
and  playfulness  which  we  have  seldom  seen  equalled. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  his  works: 

1.  A  Discovery  of  Dr.  Jackson's  Vanity,  &c.  1631. 

2.  Vindiciae  Gratiae,  Potestatis  ac  Providentise 
Dei. 

3.  Dissertatio  de  Media  Scientia. 

4.  The  Morality  of  the  Fourth  Commandment. 

5.  An  Examination  of  Mr.  Cotton's  Discourse  on 
Predestination. 

6.  The  Scriptures' Sufficiency  to  determine  all  mat- 
ters of  Faith. 

7.  The  Riches  of  God's  Love  to  the  Vessels  of 
Mercy,  with  his  Reprobation  of  the  Vessels  of  Wrath. 

S.  Fifteen  Letters  to  Mr.  Joseph  Mede. 
9.  Prefaces  to  the  learned  works  of  others. 

Valentine,  Thomas,  B.  D.,  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  is  said  to  have 
suffered  much  in  the  cause  of  non-conformity.  He 
was  suspended  for  refusing  to  read  the  "  Book  of 
Sports,"  and  prosecuted  in  the  High  Commission 
court.  Dr.  Calamy  says,  "  that  he  was  a  very  popu- 
lar and  taking  preacher."  He  was  ejected  from  his 
parish  in  St.  Giles  Bucks,  by  the  act  of  uniformity. 


392  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

His  writings  are, 

1.  A  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  from 
Zeph.  iii.  8,  at  their  fast,  December  28,  1642. 

2.  A  Charge  against  the  Jews  and  the  Christian 
World  for  not  coming  to  Christ.  John  v.  40. 

3.  Christ's  Counsel  to  Poor  and  Naked  Souls,  a 
Sermon  before  the  Commons.  Revelation  iii.  18. 

He  appears  to  have  been  an  able  and  a  sweet  evan- 
gelical preacher. 

Vines,  Richard,  was  born  in  Liecester,  in  the 
year  1600,  and  was  educated  in  Magdalen  College, 
Cambridge.  When  he  had  finished  his  course  in  the 
University,  he  taught  a  school  in  Hinckley,  in  Lie- 
cester county,  whence  he  was  called  to  be  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel,  at  Weddington,  in  Warwickshire. 
Here  he  laboured  faithfully,  and  many  from  the  sur- 
rounding villages  attended  his  ministry.  He  also  set 
up  a  weekly  lecture  at  Nuneaton,  a  large  market 
town  in  the  county  of  Warwick,  which  was  greatly 
frequented,  and  his  reputation  as  a  preacher  rose  very 
high.  Both  ministers  and  private  Christians  travelled 
many  miles  to  hear  him.  When  the  civil  war  com- 
menced, he  was  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  Coventry, 
where  he  v/as  not  idle;  but  with  other  ministers  set 
up  a  morning  lecture;  and  the  inhabitants  were  so 
affected  with  his  preaching,  that  they  earnestly  en- 
treated him  to  remain  with  them.  But  when  the  As- 
sembly of  divines  was  chosen,  he  was  one  of  them, 
and  went  up  to  London  to  attend  on  this  venerable 
synod;  where  he  was  much  esteemed  for  his  sound 
judgment,  and  masculine  and  nervous  oratory.  He 
had  several  calls,  but  finally  accepted  an  invitation 
to  Lawrence  Jewry,  where  he  laboured  with  uncom- 
mon success.  He  was  also  chosen  one  of  the  lec- 
turers at  Michael,  Cornhill.  When  the  earl  of  Essex 
died,  the  Parliament  appointed  a  public  funeral  for 
him,  and  Mr.  Vines  was  chosen  to  preach  on  the 
occasion. 

In  1644,  he  was  made  master  of  Pembroke  Hall, 
Cambridge,  by  the  earl  of  Manchester;  for  which 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  393 

exalted  station  he  was  eminently  qualified.  He  was 
one  of  the  assistant  divines  at  the  treaty  of  Uxbridge, 
and  he  and  Mr.  Henderson  defended  the  cause  of 
Presbytery,  against  Dr.  Steward  and  Dr.  Sheldon, 
who  plead  for  the  divine  right  of  Episcopacy. 

In  1645,  he  was  on  the  committee  to  prepare  a 
Confession  of  Faith;  and  in  1648,  was  sent  as  an  as- 
sistant to  the  commissioners  to  confer  with  the  king, 
at  the  Isle  of  Wight.  He  had  much  conversation 
with  the  king,  who  appears  to  have  respected  him 
much. 

When  the  king  was  under  sentence  of  death,  Mr. 
Vines  and  Dr.  Calamy,  and  other  ministers,  tendered 
their  services,  to  aid  him  in  preparing  for  his  end; 
but  he  politely  declined  their  service,  and  chose  Dr. 
Juxon  for  his  spiritual  adviser. 

Mr.  Vines  was  a  thorough  Presbyterian,  and  a  very 
solid,  judicious,  and  orthodox  divine.  He  was  mighty 
in  the  Scriptures,  and  an  "  interpreter,  one  of  a  thou- 
sand." He  was  a  great  disputant,  and  directed  his 
great  force  against  prevailing  errors.  Justification 
by  faith  was  a  favourite  subject,  and  lie  had  studied 
this  doctrine  with  uncommon  attention.  The  ten- 
dency of  his  preaching  was  to  debase  man,  and  exalt 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  his  finished  righteousness; 
and  also  to  promote  holiness  of  heart  and  life. 

In  his  latter  years  he  was  visited  with  great  bodily 
affliction;  pains  in  his  head  and  eyes.  After  a  while 
his  eyes  became  so  weak  that  he  could  not  see  the 
largest  print.  But  as  long  as  he  could  move  he  would 
still  preach,  desiring  to  die  in  the  service,  until  at  last 
his  voice  became  so  weak  that  he  could  not  be  heard. 
A  few  days  before  his  death,  when  attempting  to 
preach,  a  rude  fellow  said,  "lift  up  your  voice,  for  I 
cannot  hear  you.''  To  which  Mr.  Vines  instantly 
replied,  "  Lift  up  your  ears,  for  I  can  speak  no  louder.'' 
The  day  before  he  died,  he  preached  and  administered 
the  Lord's  supper. 

He  was  very  averse,  Dr.  Jacombe  informs  us,  to 
print  any  thing  of  his  own.     And  Dr.  Fuller  observes, 


394  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

"  that  many  most  able  scholars  have  never  appeared 
in  print." 

Mr.  Vines'  writings  are, 

1.  Caleb's  Integrity  in  following  the  Lord  fully. 
A  sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons,  at  their 
solemn  fast,  November  30,  1642 — Numbers  xiv.  24. 

2.  The  Impostures  of  Seducing  Teachers  Discov- 
ered. A  sermon  before  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Alder- 
men, at  their  anniversary  meeting,  from  Ephesians 
iv.  14,  15. 

3.  A  Sermon  before  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  on 
a  Public  Thanksgiving  for  the  great  victory  obtained 
near  York. 

4.  The  Posture  of  David's  Spirit  when  in  a  Doubt- 
ful Condition.  A  sermon  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons— 2  Samuel  xv.  25,  26. 

5.  The  Happiness  of  Israel.  A  sermon  before 
both  Houses  of  Parliament  and  the  Lord  Mayor  and 
Aldermen  of  London,  on  a  day  of  solemn  thanks- 
giving. 

6.  The  Purifying  of  Unclean  Hearts  and  Hands. 
A  sermon  before  the  House  of  Commons — James  iv.  8. 

7.  Funeral  Sermon  for  the  Earl  of  Essex — 2  Sam. 
iii.  38. 

8.  The  Authors,  Nature,  and  Danger  of  Heresy. 
Before  the  House  of  Commons — 2  Peter  ii.  1. 

9.  Obedience  to  Magistrates  Supreme  and  Subor- 
dinate. Three  sermons,  preached  at  the  election  for 
Lord  Mayor,  &c.,  in  three  successive  years. 

10.  The  Corruption  of  Mind — 2  Corinthians  xi.  3. 

11.  A  Treatise  of  the  Right  Institution,  Adminis- 
tration, and  Receiving  of  the  Lord's  Supper;  delivered 
in  twenty  sermons,  at  Lawrence  Jewry. 

12.  Christ,  the  Christian's  only  Gain. 

13.  God's  Drawing,  and  Men's  Coming  to  Christ. 

14.  The  Saint's  Nearness  to  God. 

He  died,  February,  1655,  of  a  bleeding  at  the  nose. 
Dr.  Jacombe  says,  "  He  was  '  a  burning  and  shining 
light,'  possessing  very  excellent  parts;  taller  by  the 
head  than  his  brethren.  He  was  an  accomplished 
scholar;  a  perfect  master  of  the  Greek  language,  an 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  395 

excellent  philologist,  and  an  admirable  orator.  He 
was  a  ready  and  close  disputant,  and  appeared  to  the 
admiration  of  many  in  the  treaties  of  Uxbridge  and 
Isle  of  Wight.  His  desire  was  to  die  preaching  and 
praying.  He  had  an  undaunted  spirit;  and  like  Lu- 
ther, nothing  could  deter  him  from  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  duty."  Mr.  Newcomen  calls  him  ''a  most 
acute  disputant,  a  very  happy  public  speaker,  and  an 
eminent  divine."  He  was  accounted,  "  the  very  prince 
of  preachers,  a  thorough  Calvinist,  and  a  bold,  honest 
man,  without  pride  and  flattery."  Dr.  Fuller  describes 
him  as  "  an  excellent  preacher,  and  the  very  champion 
of  the  Assembly;"  and  adds,  "He  was  constant  to 
his  principles,  yet  moderate  and  charitable  towards 
those  who  difl'ered  from  him." 

Walker,  George,  B.  D.,  was  born  in  Lancashire, 
15SL  When  very  young  he  was  seized  with  tlie 
small-pox,  and  appeared  to  be  at  the  point  of  death, 
but  while  they  were  waiting  for  his  end,  he  started  out 
of  a  swoon,  and  exclaimed,  "  Lord,  take  me  not  away 
till  I  have  showed  forth  thy  praise."  From  this  time 
he  began  to  recover,  and  his  parents  were  induced 
to  dedicate  his  preserved  life  to  God,  in  the  ministry 
of  the  gospel.  He  was  sent  to  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge,  where  he  obtained  a  high  reputation  for 
his  diligence  and  literary  attainments.  Having  finish- 
ed his  studies  in  the  University,  and  taken  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Divinity,  he  went^to  London,  and  be- 
came Rector  of  John  the  Evangelist,  in  W^atling- 
street,  in  1614.  In  this  station  he  continued  to  labour 
forty  years;  refusing  all  higher  preferments,  which 
were  frequently  offered  to  him.  While  here,  he  be- 
came chaplain  to  Dr.  Felton,  bishop  of  Ely:  and  the 
height  of  his  reputation  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact 
that  Dr.  Featly,in  his  public  disputations  with  Fisher, 
the  Romanist,  chose  Mr.  W^alker  as  his  second.  He 
was  eminently  distinguished  for  his  bold  and  success- 
ful opposition  to  popery;  and  on  several  occasions 
engaged  in  public  controversy  with  the  most  subtle 
Jesuits.     One  of  these  disputations  took  place  on  the 


396 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


last  of  May,  1623,  with  a  popish  priest  by  the  name 
of  Smith,  in  the  presence  of  a  very  large  assembly. 
By  the  consent  of  both  parties,  an  account  of  this  con- 
troversy was  printed.  It  seems,  however,  that  the 
real  name  of  his  antagonist  was  Norris,  who.  Wood 
says,  was  a  Doctor  of  Divinity;  and  the  author  of 
several  tracts  on  this  controversy. 

In  the  year  following,  Mr.  Walker  was  engaged  in 
controversy  with  Fisher,  the  Jesuit,  with  whom,  as 
well  as  others,  he  had  many  encounters;  and  pub- 
lished an  account  of  the  dispute,  in  a  pamphlet  entitled, 
"Fisher's  Folly  Unfolded;  or,  the  Vaunting  Jesuit's 
Challenge  Answered." 

Mr.  Walker  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  genuine 
piety,  and  very  strict  in  his  life;  and  especially  ob- 
servant of  the  Christian  Sabbath.  The  religious  duty 
of  observing  the  Lord's  day,  he  often  inculcated  from 
the  pulpit,  and  in  his  writings.  Some  sermons  which 
he  published  on  this  subject,  occasioned  him  no  small 
trouble;  for  he  was  first  admonished  by  his  bishop, 
and  then  arraigned  in  the  star  chamber,  and  fined 
and  imprisoned.  His  case  was  brought  before  the 
House  of  Commons  in  1641,  when  it  was  resolved, 
"  that  his  commitment  and  confinement  were  against 
the  law  and  liberty  of  the  subject."  From  this  time, 
he  remained  with  his  flock,  without  molestation,  until 
the  day  of  his  death. 

In  1643,  Mr.  Walker  was  chosen  one  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  at  Westminster,  where  he  is  marked 
by  Neal  as  giving  constant  attendance.  By  his  gene- 
rous conduct  in  the  Assembly,  he  obtained  a  very 
high  reputation,  and  was  appointed  on  the  committee 
to  whom  it  belonged,  to  ordain  ministers,  by  the  im- 
position of  hands.  On  the  trial  of  archbishop  Laud, 
he  was  a  witness  against  him,  and  testified  that  he 
had  endeavoured  to  introduce  into  the  church,  Ar- 
minianism  and  popish  superstitions.  He  sometimes 
preached  before  the  Parliament.  He  united  with  the 
ministers  of  London,  in  protesting  against  the  death 
of  the  king,  whom  he  declared  ought  to  be  set  at 
liberty. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  397 

Mr.  Walker  died  in  the  year  1651,  when  he  was 
about  seventy  years  of  age. 

The  character  given  of  him  by  Dr.  Fuller  is,  "  that 
he  was  well  skilled  in  the  oriental  languages,  and  an 
excellent  logician  and  divine;  a  man  of  a  holy  life, 
an  humble  spirit,  and  a  liberal  hand.  By  means  of  his 
own  liberality,  and  his  persuasions,  about  a  thousand 
pounds  were  raised  for  the  support  of  ministers  in  his 
native  country. 

He  wrote  all  his  sermons,  but  made  no  use  of  his 
notes  in  the  pulpit;  although  he  always  had  them  in 
his  pocket. 

The  published  writings  of  Mr.  Walker  are, 

1.  Socinianism,  in  the  Fundamental  Point  of  Justi- 
fication, Discovered  and  Confuted. 

2.  The  Doctrine  of  the  Holy  Weekly  Sabbath. 

3.  The  Manifold  Wisdom  of  God. 

4.  God  made  Visible  in  all  His  Works — before  the 
House  of  Commons. 

5.  Controversial  Tracts,  on  Popery. 

Wallis,  John,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Kent  county, 
November  23,  1616.  His  father  was  an  eminently 
pious,  learned,  and  orthodox  divine,  in  the  same 
county;  but  died  while  his  son  was  very  young. 
Under  the  assiduous  care  of  a  pious  mother,  however, 
he  was  "  brought  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition 
of  the  Lord." 

In  the  year  1825,  there  was  a  great  plague  in  Lon- 
don and  other  places;  and  among  the  rest,  Ashford 
was  visited.  On  this  occasion  he  was  sent  to  school 
to  a  Scotchman,  by  the  name  of  Moffat,  where  he 
continued  for  several  years;  and  when  this  school 
was  broken  up,  he  was  sent  to  a  school  in  Essex, 
which  had  a  good  reputation.  Here  he  became  a 
very  expert  Latin  and  Greek  scholar;  and  as  the 
custom  of  both  schools  was  to  speak  in  Latin,  he  ac- 
quired a  great  facility  in  the  use  of  this  language, 
which  was  of  eminent  service  to  him  afterwards. 
In  the  University,  he  paid  much  attention  to  Hebrew, 
which  he  had  commenced  before.     He  also  learned 


398 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


logic,  music,  and  French;  and  while  spending  his 
vacation  at  his  mother's,  he  was  instructed  in  arith- 
metic by  a  3^ounger  brotlier:  this  was  his  first  entrance 
into  a  science  in  which,  afterwards,  he  became  so 
eminent.  It  was  in  1632,  that  he  was  sent  to  Cam- 
bridge, where  he  became  a  student  of  Emanuel 
College,  under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Anthony  Burgess, 
whom  he  describes  as  "a  learned  tutor,  an  able  dis- 
putant, an  eminent  preacher,  and  an  orthodox  divine." 
Mr.  Wallis  was  always  considered  one  of  the  best 
scholars  in  the  college  to  which  he  belonged.  He 
took  his  first  degree  in  the  arts  in  1637,  and  his  second 
in  1640,  in  which  year  he  entered  the  sacred  ministry. 
For  several  years  he  acted  as  chaplain;  first,  in  the 
family  of  Sir  Richard  Darby,  and  afterwards,  of  Lady 
Vere.  He  was  one  year  fellow  of  Queen's  College, 
Cambridge,  but  upon  his  marriage,  he  vacated  his  fel- 
lowship. About  1644,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  sec- 
retaries to  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster. 
During  his  attendance,  he  was  employed  to  preach  in 
London,  until  his  removal  to  Oxford.  In  that  Uni- 
versity he  pursued  his  studies  with  so  much  profi- 
ciency, that  he  acquired  the  reputation  of  being  one 
of  the  ablest  mathematicians  of  the  age  in  which  he 
lived.  He  acquired  also  an  extraordinary  skill  in 
decyphering  letters  written  in  cypher,  and  was  often 
employed  in  that  arduous  work;  but  he  complains 
that  his  services  of  this  kind  were  poorly  remunerated. 
When,  in  consequence  of  the  civil  wars,  many  learned 
men  from  the  Universities  took  refuge  in  London,  he 
and  a  number  of  others,  agreed  to  meet  weekly  for 
mutual  improvement  in  the  sciences.  This  was  the 
commencement  of  the  Royal  Society.  In  164  9,  he 
became  Savilian  professor  of  Geometry,  at  Oxford, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  opened 
his  lectures  with  an  elegant  speech  in  Latin,  which 
was  printed.  In  1654,  he  took  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity;  and  in  165S,  was  chosen  keeper  of  the 
archives  of  the  University  of  Oxford.  At  the  restora- 
tion, he  was  treated  with  great  respect.  The  king 
himself  entertained  a  favourable  opinion  of  him,  and 


WESTMINSTER  ASSEMBLY.  399 

not  only  confirmed  him  in  his  several  offices  in  the 
University,  but  made  him  one  of  his  own  chaplains. 
In  1661,  he  was  one  of  the  divines  appointed  to  re- 
view the  hook  of  common  prayer;  after  which  he 
complied  with  the  act  of  uniformity,  and  continued 
steadily  to  conform  until  the  day  of  his  death.  As  Dr. 
Wallis  was  one  of  the  first,  so  he  was  one  of  the  most 
active  and  useful  members  of  the  Royal  Society,  with 
which  he  continually  corresponded;  and  many  of  his 
letters  and  papers  have  been  published  in  the  early 
transactions  of  this  learned  body.  The  first  president 
of  the  Royal  Society  was  Lord  Brounker,  viscount  of 
Castle  Lyons,  in  Ireland,  and  was  much  in  corres- 
pondence with  Dr.  Wallis  on  mathematical  subjects. 
He  also  addressed  to  the  celebrated  Robert  Boyle,  his 
hypothesis  on  the  flux  and  reflux  of  the  sea,  which 
was  printed  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions. 

His  memory  was  so  extraordinary,  that  he  was  able 
by  a  mere  mental  process,  to  extract  the  cube  root  to 
an  hundred  places  of  figures.  But  when  engaged  in 
these  operations,  it  was  necessary  that  light,  sound, 
and  muscular  action  should  be  excluded. 

Edward  Bernard,  afterwards  famous  both  as  an 
astronomer  and  linguist,  studied  mathematics  under 
the  tuition  of  Dr.  Wallis.  He  was  among  the  first 
who  pronounced  that  it  was  practicable  to  teach  mutes 
to  speak,  and  undertook  the  tuition  of  a  Mr.  Whally, 
deaf  and  dumb  from  his  birth;  and  having  fully  suc- 
ceeded in  this  his  first  efl^ort,  he  undertook  the  instruc- 
tion of  a  second  pupil,  the  son  of  Admiral  Popham. 
Afterwards,  Dr.  Wallis  instructed  several  mutes,  but 
without  attempting  to  teach  them  to  speak. 

He  was  not  only  a  great  mathematician,  but  an 
able  and  orthodox  theologian.  He  was  a  strenuous 
defender  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity;  and  also  a 
zealous  vindicator  of  the  obligation  to  observe  reli- 
giously the  Christian  Sabbath.  He  was  undoubtedly 
possessed  of  great  perspicuity  and  discrimination. 
Though  he  led  so  studious  a  life,  yet  he  arrived  at  a 
very  advanced  age.  His  death  occurred  October  28, 
1703,  when  he  was  in  his  eighty-eighth  year.    He  left 


400 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


behind  him  one  son  and  two  daughters,  to  lament  the 
loss  of  a  good  father.  His  remains  were  interred  in 
St.  Mary^s  Church,  Oxford,  where  a  handsome  monu- 
ment has  been  erected  to  his  memory. 

Dr.  Wallis  did  not  apply  to  the  science  of  mathe- 
matics until  he  had  passed  his  fortieth  year;  and  yet 
it  is  agreed,  that  he  was  second  to  no  man  in  this  de- 
partment but  Sir  Isaac  Newton.  One  accidental  tes- 
timony of  his  great  skill  remains  in  his  "  Commercium 
Epistolicum,"  occasioned  by  a  challenge  given  by 
Mr.  Fermate,  a  Frenchman,  to  English,  Dutch,  and 
French  mathematicians — Paris  excepted — to  answer 
a  numerical  question.  Dr.  Wallis  accomplished  it 
with  great  ease,  and  obtained  high  applause.  In  a 
letter  addressed  to  Sir  Kenelm  Digby,  it  is  said,  *'  Now 
must  Holland  yield  to  England,  and  Paris  to  Oxford.'^ 

He  possessed  a  vigorous  constitution,  a  strong  mind, 
calm,  serene,  and  not  easily  thrown  off  its  balance. 
He  was  reckoned  the  ornament  of  his  country,  and 
the  glory  of  the  University  in  which  he  was  professor. 

Memoirs  of  Dr.  Wallis,  with  a  fine  portrait,  were 
published  in  the  '^  Universal  Magazine/^  for  March, 
1S02. 

Dr.  Wallis's  published  writings  are, 

1.  Truth  Tried,  or,  Animad  versions  on  Lord  Brooks' 
Treatise,  called.  The  Nature  of  Truth. 

2.  Animadversions  of  R.  Baxter's  Aphorisms  of 
Justification,  and  of  the  Covenant. 

3.  Tractus  de  loquela  Grammatica,  Physicus;  or, 
Grammatica  Lingua?  Anglicanae  Cum  Tractatu  de 
loquela,  sen  sonorum  formatione. 

This  is  a  very  curious  disquisition,  in  which  the 
author  attempts  to  explain  all  sounds  used  in  articu- 
late speech,  and  the  organ  by  which  they  are  uttered, 
with  nine  distinctions  of  the  various  sounds  of  the 
same  letter.  Upon  this  theory,  he  was  led  to  the 
opinion,  that  mutes  might  be  taught  to  speak. 

4.  Grammar  of  the  English  Tongue  for  the  Use  of 
Foreigners,  written  in  Latin, 

5.  Elenchus  Geometrise  Hobbianae,  a  computation 
of  Hobbe's  Work,  "  De  Corpore  Philosophico." 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  401 

6.  Due  Correction  for  Mr.  Hobbes.  An  answer  to 
his  Six  Lessons  to  tlie  Professors  of  Mathematics,  at 
Oxford. 

7.  Hobbiani  Puncti  Dispunctio,  in  answer  to 
Hobbe's  ''  Stigmai." 

S.  Hobbius  Heautontimoruminos,  in  answer  to 
Hobbe's  "  Examinatio,  &c." 

9.  Mathesis  Universalis,  in  two  volumes. 

10.  Commercium  Epistolicum. 

11.  Archimedes'  x\venarius,  et  dimensio  Circuli. 

12.  Claudii  Ptolonicei,  Opus  Harmonicum. 

1 3.  Theological  Discourses,  containing  eight  Letters 
and  eight  Sermons  on  the  Trinity. 

14.  Two  Sermons.  1.  On  Regeneration.  2.  On 
the  Resurrection. 

15.  A  Defence  of  the  Sabbath. 

16.  A  Defence  of  Infant  Baptism. 

17.  An  Explanation  of  the  Shorter  Catechism. 

18.  His  Letters,  Pamphlets,  &c. 

In  1697,  the  curators  of  the  press  at  Oxford,  gave 
orders  to  have  all  Dr.  Wallis's  works  collected  and 
published  together.  They  were,  accordingly,  pub- 
lished in  1699,  in  three  volumes,  folio,  and  dedicated 
to  king  William.  A  posthumous  volume,  containing 
thirteen  sermons,  was  published  in  1791,  from  the 
author's  original  MSS.,  by  his  great  grandson,  Mr. 
William  Wallis.  The  doctrine  of  these  sermons  is 
strictly  Calvinistic,  the  style  plain,  and  the  composi- 
tion good.  To  these  sermons,  memoirs  of  the  learned 
author  are  prefixed. 

Ward,  John,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines 
at  Westminster,  was  for  some  time  minister  of  Ips- 
wich, in  Suffolk,  England.  He  preached  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  a  sermon  entitled,  "  God  Judging 
among  the  Gods,"  from  Psalm  Ixxxii.  1,  on  a  fast, 
March  26^  1645.  And  another  before  the  Lords,  in 
the  Abbey  Church,  from  Deuteronomy  xxxiii.  16,  on 
a  thanksgiving,  July  22,  1645,  entitled,  "The  Good 
Will  of  Him  who  Dwelt  in  the  Bush;  or  the  Extra- 

26 


402  BIOGEAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

ordinary  Happiness  of  living  under  an  Extraordinary 
Providence. ^^ 

Whincop,  John,  D.  D.,  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster,  is  described  in  the  ordi- 
nance of  Parliament,  calling  the  Assembly,  as  of  St. 
Martins,  in  the  Fields;  and  by  Neal,  as  constant  in 
his  attendance.  There  are  extant  two  sermons  by  a 
Doctor  Whincop,  preached  before  Parliament,  which 
probably  belong  to  the  person  here  named. 

Whitaker,  Jeremiah,  A.  M.,  was  born  at  Wake- 
field, in  Yorkshire,  in  1599.  He  received  the  elements 
of  his  education  in  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  seems 
to  have  become  pions  at  an  early  age,  for  when  a 
mere  youth  he  often  travelled  eight  or  ten  miles  to 
hear  an  awakening  and  soul-refreshing  sermon.  He 
also  frequently  joined  serious  persons  in  prayer,  and 
other  religious  exercises. 

At  sixteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Whitaker  was  admit- 
ted into  Sidney  College,  Cambridge,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education,  and  took  his  degrees  in 
the  arts.  He  commenced  Bachelor  of  Arts  when 
only  twenty  years  of  age.  After  leaving  the  Univer- 
sity, he  taught  the  free  school,  in  Okeham,  about  se- 
ven years,  and  while  resident  here  he  married  the 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  William  Peachy,  minister  of 
the  place ;  a  man  eminent  in  his  day.  Having  enter- 
ed the  sacred  office,  he  settled  as  a  pastor  at  Stretton, 
in  the  county  of  Rutland,  where  he  continued  for 
about  thirteen  yeari<,  diligently  performing  the  duties 
of  his  office.  And  he  was  not  only  constant  and  faith- 
ful in  the  public  duties  which  devolved  upon  him, 
but  also  in  the  duties  of  the  family  and  closet.  To 
his  own  family  he  expounded  a  portion  of  Scripture 
twice  every  day;  and  he  was  so  diligent  in  reading 
the  sacred  Scriptures,  that  it  was  a  rule  with  him  to 
read  over  all  the  epistles  in  the  Greek  Testament, 
every  fortnight.  By  this  means  he  became  mighty 
in  the  Scriptures.  The  same  course  he  recommended 
to  his  eldest  son  as  an  excellent  method  to  make  him 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  403 

both  a  ready  and  a  profitable  preacher.  He  refused 
to  read  the  Book  of  Sports,  by  which,  and  some  other 
things,  he  was  in  danger  of  losing  his  living. 

In  the  year  1643,  Mr.  Whitaker  was  noniinated 
one  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  on 
account  of  his  eminent  piety  and  learning ;  and  he 
was  esteemed  a  very  useful  member  of  that  venera- 
ble Synod.  Upon  coming  up  to  London,  he  was 
called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  Mary  Magdalen  Ber- 
mondsey,  a  rectory  in  Southwark.  It  was  his  cus- 
tom to  preach  three  or  four  sermons  every  week; 
two  in  his  own  charge,  one  in  Westminster,  and  one 
at  Christ  Church,  London.  Beside,  he  was  engaged 
in  two  lectures  quarterly,  and  preached  monthly  at 
the  "Morning  Exercises';''  add  to  this,  that  he  was 
often  called  upon  for  occasional  discourses,  with 
which  calls  he  was  always  ready  to  comply.  And 
though  he  preached  so  often,  his  sermons  were  not 
mean  nor  empty,  but  solid  and  edifying. 

Mr.  Whitaker  was  in  principle  a  Presbyterian. 
Dr.  Fuller  reckons  him  among  the  pillars  of  the  Pres- 
byterians in  the  Assembly;  and  Neal  says,  that  no 
man  was  more  beloved  by  the  Presbyterians  of  Lon- 
don. 

Mr.  Calamy,  in  speaking  of  him,  testifies,  "  that 
he  was  a  burning  and  a  shining  light,  in  this  our 
Israel;  a  messenger,  and  an  interpreter;  one  among  a 
thousand;  a  Bezaleel  in  God's  Tabernacle;  a  true 
Nathaniel,  who,  by  his  integrity,  humility,  constancy, 
charity,  publicness,  and  peaceableness  of  spirit,  and 
by  his  diligence  and  faithfulness  in  preaching  the  gos- 
pel, made  his  life  both  amiable  and  desirable.  I  will 
say  of  him  as  it  was  said  of  Athanasius,  that  he  was 
an  adamant  and  a  loadstone.  To  all  who  conversed 
with  him  he  was  a  loadstone,  to  draw  their  hearts  to 
love  him;  but  in  the  cause  of  God,  and  in  reference  to 
the  truths  of  Christianity,  he  was  an  unconquerable 
adamant.''  Dr.  Fuller  says,  "  He  was  a  solid  divine; 
a  man  made  up  of  piety  to  God,  pity  to  poor  men, 
and  patience  in  himself  His  liberality  knew  no  bot- 
tom but  an  empty  purse;  so  bountiful  was  he  to  all 


404 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


men."  And  Leigh,  in  his  treatise  of  reUgious  and 
learned  men,  says,  "  Jeremiah  Whitaker,  my  worthy 
friend,  a  learned  and  pious  Divine  of  the  Assembly, 
who  was  a  man  mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  of  an  hum- 
ble, melting  spirit,  laborious  in  his  ministerial  func- 
tion, zealous  for  God's  glory,  and  wonderfully  patient 
in  all  the  time  of  his  heavy  affliction.'^  During  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  he  was  subject  to  painful  dis- 
eases, by  which  he  suffered  much.  He  was  attacked 
by  both  gout  and  stone  at  the  same  time.  But  while 
he  was  able  to  get  to  his  pulpit,  even  on  crutches,  he 
was  found  there;  and  while  engaged  in  preaching 
the  gospel,  he  seemed  to  forget  all  his  weaknesses 
and  diseases.  But  at  length  he  was  confined  to  his 
bed,  and  endured  extreme  pain,  which  he  bore  with 
exemplary  patience.  While  suffering  under  disease, 
a  deep  interest  was  taken  in  his  case  among  the  pious 
in  and  about  London,  and  several  days  of  prayer  and 
fasting  were  observed  on  his  account.  Mr.  Ashe 
says,  "  I  never  heard  of  any  man  so  much  prayed 
for,  both  in  public  and  private.  There  was  no  parti- 
cular case  so  frequently  and  so  afiectionately  spread 
before  God  in  most  of  the  congregations  about  Lon- 
don, as  his."  During  his  affliction,  he  had  the  ex- 
perience of  very  sweet  manifestations  of  Divine  love, 
and  enjoyed  much  assurance  of  God's  fatherly  love 
in  Christ. 

When  the  time  of  his  dissolution  drew  near,  his 
pains  became  more  violent ;  but  the  grace  of  God, 
which  hitherto  had  supported  him,  did  not  forsake 
him.  His  faith  and  patience  held  out  to  the  end  of 
this  painful  conflict.  His  soul  was  buoyed  up  whh 
the  assured  hope  of  soon  being  released  from  all  his 
troubles,  and  being  admitted  into  the  society  of  the 
blessed.  His  pains  were  so  excruciating,  and  the 
paroxysms  so  frequent,  that  his  strength  was  exhaust- 
ed, and  his  end  evidently  drew  near;  and  no  stranger 
ever  more  desired  to  be  at  home,  than  di.l  this  good 
man  to  be  released  from  the  body.  The  desired 
event,  after  long  endurance  of  great  pain,  at  length 
arrived.     On  the  first  day  of  June,  1654,  he  breathed 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  405 

out  his  soul,  or  rather  committed  it  into  the  hands  of 
his  faithful  and  merciful  Redeemer,  aged  about  fifty- 
five  years.  His  body  was  buried  in  the  Church  of 
Mary  Magdalen,  Bermondsey,  and  his  funeral  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  his  dear  and  intimate  friend, 
the  Rev.  James  Ashe. 

The  following  discourses  are  the  only  published 
writings  of  Mr.  Whitaker: 

1.  Christ  the  Settlement  of  unsettled  times.  A  ser- 
mon from  Haggai  ii.  7,  preached  before  the  House 
of  Commons  at  their  solemn  fast,  January  25,  1642. 

2.  The  Christian's  great  design  on  Earth  to  attain 
assurance  for  Heaven;  or  how,  in  this  Life,  he  may 
lay  hold  of  Eternal  Life;  from  1  Tim.  vi.  17 — 19,  be- 
fore the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  &c.  of  London, 
April  8,  1645. 

3.  The  Christian's  Hope  Triumphing;  preached  be- 
fore the  House  of  Lords,  May  28,  1645. 

4.  The  Danger  of  Greatness;  or  Uzziah's  Exalta- 
tion and  Destruction;  preached  before  the  Lords, 
Commons,  and  Assembly  of  Divines,  on  a  day  of 
special  prayer  and  humiliation,  January  14,  1645. 

Wilkinson,  Henry,  B.  D.,  was  born  in  Yorkshire. 
England,  October  9,  1566;  and  received  his  education 
in  Merlon  College,  Oxford,  into  which  he  entered  in 
1581.  He  took  his  degrees  in  the  arts,  and  also  pro- 
ceeded B.  D.;  after  which  he  was  settled  in  the  min- 
istry at  Waddesdon,  in  Buckinghamshire,  where  he 
laboured  in  the  faithful  exercise  of  his  ministry  forty- 
six  years. 

He  married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Arthur  Wake, 
a  zealous  Puritan  divine,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons 
and  three  daughters.  He  seems  to  have  enjoyed  his 
full  share  of  domestic  comfort;  for  his  wife,  with 
whom  he  lived  in  harmony  fifty  years,  was  a  very 
amiable  woman. 

Though  elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster,  in  1643,  he  seems  not  to  have 
been  constant  in  his  attendance;  but  spent  most  of 
the  time  among  his  parishioners. 


406  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

He  died  at  Waddesdon,  March  19,  1647,  aged 
eighty-one  years.  His  mortal  remains  were  laid  in 
the  chancel  of  his  own  church,  where  an  inscription 
was  placed,  which  contains  most  of  the  particulars 
enumerated  in  the  above  account. 

He  published  a  catechism  for  the  use  of  his  own 
congregation,  which  has  been  often  reprinted. 

He  also  published  a  work  entitled,  "The  Debt- 
book,"  or  a  treatise  on  Romans  xii.  8. 

Wilkinson,  Henry,  D.  D.,  son  of  the  Henry  Wil- 
kinson, B.  D.,of  whom  some  account  has  been  given, 
was  born  at  Waddesdon,  in  Buckinghamshire,  Eng- 
land; and  became  a  commoner  of  Magdalen  Hall, 
Oxford,  when  only  thirteen  years  of  age.  There  he 
pursued  his  studies  with  great  diligence  and  profi- 
ciency, became  a  noted  tutor,  master  of  the  schools, 
and  reader  of  divinity  in  his  house.  In  1638,  he  was 
admitted  bachelor  of  divinity,  and  preached  frequently 
in  Oxford  and  its  vicinity;  and  became  as  a  preacher 
very  celebrated.  But  his  zeal  against  unmeaning  and 
superstitious  ceremonies,  exposed  him  to  persecution. 
On  the  6th  of  September,  1640,  he  preached  a  sermon 
at  St.  Mary's,  in  his  turn,  on  lukewarmness  in  reli- 
gion, by  which  he  gave  great  offence  to  the  high 
church  party.  He  w^as  summoned  on  the  same  day 
on  which  it  was  delivered,  to  make  a  recantation, 
agreeably  to  a  prescribed  form,  which  he  positively 
refused  to  do;  upon  which  he  was  suspended  from 
all  his  ministerial  functions,  within  the  University, 
until  he  should  make  his  recantation.  He  complained 
to  the  long  Parliament,  and  upon  a  perusal  of  the  ser- 
mon which  he  sent  into  them,  they  resolved  that  it 
contained  nothing  worthy  of  censure,  and  he  was  re- 
leased from  his  suspension.  He  now  Avent  on  to 
preach  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  to  teach  those  things 
which  concern  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  with  all  confi- 
dence, no  man  forbidding  him.  Indeed,  he  was  en- 
dued with  that  courage  which  would  have  led  him  to 
stand  out  against  the  world,  when  the  path  of  duty 
was  plainly  marked  before  him. 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  40^ 

He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines, and  is  marked  as  one  who  gave  constant  attend- 
ance. He  preached  several  times  before  ParHament, 
and  became  pastor  of  Dunstan  in  the  east.  He  was 
appointed  one  of  the  visiters  to  the  University  of  Ox- 
ford; where  he  was  made  senior  fellow  of  Magdalen 
College,  and  canon  of  Christ's  Church.  He  now 
commenced  doctor  of  divinity,  and  at  Cheynell's  de- 
parture, was  made  Margaret  professor  of  the  Uni- 
versity. 

After  the  restoration,  Dr.  Wilkinson  was  ejected 
from  all  his  offices  in  the  University;  on  which  he 
retired  to  London,  where  he  lived  a  non-conformist. 
In  the  latter  period  of  his  life,  he  lived  at  Clapham, 
in  Surrey,  where  he  kept  an  open  meeting,  after  the 
indulgence  in  1671;  and  where  he  died,  in  June,  1675. 
Wood  says,  "  he  was  a  good  scholar,  always  a  close 
student,  and  an  excellent  preacher." 

Published  writings  of  Dr.  Wilkinson: 

1.  A  Sermon  against  Lukewarmness  in  Religion. 

2.  Babylon's  Ruin,  Jerusalem's  Rising.  A  fast  ser- 
mon before  the  House  of  Commons.  Zech.  i.  IS — 21. 
October  25,  1643. 

3.  The  Gainful  Cost.  Fast  sermon  before  the  House 
of  Lords.     1  Chronicles  xxi.  24.    November  27,  1644. 

4.  The  Wonderful  and  Astonishing  Mercies  which 
the  Lord  hath  wrought  for  England.  A  thanksgiv- 
ing sermon.     Numbers  xxiii.  23. 

5.  A  Sermon  in  the  ^^  Morning  Exercises,"  at  Crip- 
ple-gate, concerning  "  Our  Danger  in  Things  Lawful." 

6.  Another  in  the  supplement,  "  Of  Doing  all  things 
in  the  Name  of  Christ." 

7.  Against  Popery — proving  the  Pope  to  be  Anti- 
christ; or,  the  Man  of  Sin. 

White,  John,  A.  M.,  was  born  at  Stanton,  in  Ox- 
fordshire, in  January,  1575,  and  was  educated  in  the 
elementary  parts  of  classical  learning  in  the  famous 
school  of  William  of  Warwick,  near  the  city  of  Win- 
chester, and  was  in  due  season  transferred  to  New 
College,  Oxford,  which  owed  its  foundation  to  the 


408 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


same  benefactor  as  the  school  aforesaid.  Of  this  Col- 
lege he  became  a  fellow,  and  entered  into  holy  orders, 
and  was  diligent  as  a  preacher.  But  in  160G,  he  left 
the  College  and  was  made  rector  of  Trinity  Church, 
in  Dorchester,  where  he  faithfully  fulfilled  the  ardu- 
ous and  responsible  duties  of  a  pastor.  He  spent 
much  of  his  labour  in  expounding  the  sacred  text,  in 
which  Dr.  Manton  says,  he  excelled  most.  He  went 
over  the  whole  Bible,  and  had  proceeded  over  the  one 
half  a  second  time,  in  the  way  of  exposition,  before 
he  was  called  away  from  his  flock.  His  labours  in 
Dorchester  were  eminently  successful,  and  he  sought 
opportunities  of  being  useful  to  all  whom  his  influence 
could  reach,  by  every  means  in  his  power.  His  exer- 
tions to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the  poor  were  at- 
tended with  such  success,  that  a  common  beggar  was 
not  to  be  seen  in  the  town;  for  things  were  so  man- 
aged that  all  were  furnished  with  employment.  Un- 
der his  influence  religion  and  virtue  greatly  flourished, 
and  all  his  instructions  and  exertions  were  enforced 
by  a  shining  example  of  piety  in  his  own  life  and  con- 
versation. While  Prince  Rupert's  army  were  in  those 
parts,  a  troop  of  horse  entered  Dorchester,  plundered 
Mr.  White's  house  and  carried  off"  his  library;  after- 
wards, as  a  compensation  for  this  loss,  the  Parliament 
gave  him  the  use  of  Dr.  Featley's  library  until  he 
should  recover  his  own. 

He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly  of  Divines,  and  when  that  body  met,  was 
chosen  one  of  the  assessors.  In  the  deliberations  of 
this  venerable  synod,  Mr.  White  was  greatly  esteemed 
for  his  wisdom  and  moderation.  When  the  Assem- 
bly met  to  swear  to  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant, 
he  introduced  the  solemnity  by  a  prayer. 

Mr.  White  married  the  sister  of  Dr.  Burgess,  by 
whom  he  left  four  sons.  After  the  nation  settled 
down  into  tranquillity,  Mr.  White  returned  to  Dor- 
chester where  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred July  21,  1648. 

Though  he  was  truly  eminent  in  his  day  and  con- 
spicuous among  his  brethren,  very  few  particulars  of 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


409 


his  life  have  been  recorded.  It  is  an  undoubted  evi- 
dence of  the  excellence  of  his  character,  that  he  is 
well  spoken  of,  not  only  by  those  of  his  own  party  but 
both  Fuller  and  Wood  give  him  high  commendation. 
He  was  entirely  free  from  covetousness,  was  full  of 
schemes  of  benevolent  enterprise,  of  an  amiable  tem- 
per, grave  but  not  morose;  and  as  a  pastor,  exhibit- 
ed the  character  of  a  good  shepherd,  by  continually 
contriving  and  labouring  for  the  benefit  of  his  flock. 
His  usefuhiess  and  reputation  were  so  great,  that  he 
received  the  appellation  of  the  "  Patriarch  of  Dor- 
chester.^' 

The  published  writings  of  Mr.  White  are  the  fol- 
lowing: 

1.  The  Troubles  of  Jerusalem's  Restoration,  &c. 

2.  The  Way  to  the  Tree  of  Life. 

3.  An  Assize  Sermon,  March  7,  1632. 

4.  A  Commentary  on  the  three  first  chapters  of 
Genesis;  fol. 

Wilson,  Thomas,  A.  M.,  was  born  in  the  county 
of  Cumberland,  England,  1601.  He  discovered  an 
early  love  of  books,  and  though  sent  early  to  school, 
he  soon  outstripped  all  his  competitors  in  learning. 
Before  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  was  ad- 
mitted into  Christ's  College,  Cambridge;  and  was 
greatly  admired  for  his  indefatigable  industry,  and 
rapid  progress  in  useful  learning.  He  took  his  degrees, 
and  entered  the  sacred  ministry.  His  diligence  was 
so  unremitting,  that  the  motto  over  his  door  might 
have  been,  "  No  day  without  doing  something." 
And  while  engaged  in  academical  studies,  he  was 
not  neglectful  of  theology.  "  From  a  child  he  knew 
the  Holy  Scriptures,"  and  the  Bible  was  exceedingly 
precious  unto  him.  It  is  said,  that  before  he  was 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  he  had  read  over  the  whole  of  "  Ju- 
nius and  Tremellius,"  three  times.  His  bodily  con- 
stitution being  strong,  he  was  enabled  to  apply  him- 
self indefatigably  to  his  studies.  Upon  leaving  the 
University,  he  spent  four  years  in  teaching  a  school 
at  Chartwood,  in  the  county  of  Surrey,  employmg. 


410 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


however,  all  his  vacant  hours  in  the  study  of  theology. 
He  had  also  the  assistance  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bristow, 
minister  of  Chartwood,  to  aid  him  in  directing  his 
studies.  JNIr.  Bristow,  if  he  had  consulted  only  his 
own  advantage,  and  the  benefit  of  his  own  flock, 
would  have  wished  to  retain  Mr.  Wilson  in  the  school; 
but  perceiving  that  he  was  endued  with  eminent  gifts 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  he  encouraged  him  to 
go  forward  to  that  arduous  work.  After  several 
years'  experience,  Mr.  Wilson  gave  it  as  his  opinion, 
that  except  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  he  knew  no 
occupation  in  which  a  pious  man  could  be  more  useful, 
than  in  teaching  youth. 

He  began  his  ministerial  labours  at  Capel,  where 
he  was  not  the  less  diligent  and  faithful,  because  he 
received  very  little  for  his  services.  His  next  field  of 
labour  was  at  Farlington,  near  Portsmouth.  But  he 
did  not  remain  long  here,  but  went  to  Teddington, 
near  Kingston  on  Thames,  in  the  county  of  Sur- 
rey. Here  his  labours  were  crowned  with  remarka- 
ble success,  and  he  continued  for  several  years.  Many 
souls  in  this  place  considered  him  as  their  father  in 
the  gospel.  While  residing  here,  he  felt  a  strong  de- 
sire to  visit  his  native  country  and  his  friends.  This 
he  accomplished,  when  about  twenty-six  years  of  age; 
and  the  visit  was  made  highly  beneficial  to  many 
persons. 

While  he  was  in  Cumberland,  he  preached  at  a 
large  market-town,  called  Penrith,  where  a  market 
was  held  every  Lord's  day,  until  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  Mr.  Wilson  set  himself  to  break  up  this 
custom,  by  which  the  Sabbath  was  profaned.  He 
got  the  neighbouring  ministers  to  unite  with  him,  and 
a  proclamation  was  made,  that  no  more  victuals  should 
be  brought  to  market  on  the  Lord's  day.  And  for 
many  years  afterwards,  there  was  no  market  held 
here  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

His  next  remove  was  to  Otham,  near  Maidstone, 
in  the  county  of  Kent,  where  he  was  made  the  instru- 
ment of  awakening  and  converting  many  souls.  Mul- 
titudes flocked  to  hear  him,  so  that  the  church  at 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  411 

Maidstone  was  too  small  to  contain  them.  The  regu- 
lar pastor  of  this  place  was  an  unprofitable  steward; 
for  when  the  children  asked  for  bread,  he  gave  them 
a  stone.  But  Mr.  Wilson  acted  as  "  a  faithful  and 
wise  steward,  who  gave  to  every  one  his  portion  in 
due  season."  To  the  impenitent  he  thundered  the 
terrors  of  the  law ;  and  to  the  awakened  and  humbled 
sinner,  who  was  inquiring,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be 
saved  .^"  he  was  a  Barnabas,  a  son  of  sweet  consola- 
tion. He  had  the  happy  art  of  displaying  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  Christ,  unto  sinners  ready  to  per- 
ish. His  doctrine  was  according  to  godliness,  and 
his  chief  aim  to  glorify  God,  and  to  win  souls  unto 
Christ.  He  neither  sought  to  please  the  fancy,  nor 
to  gain  the  applause  of  his  auditory,  by  "  the  enticing 
words  of  man's  wisdom.''  And  in  obedience  to  the 
divine  command,  he  preached  the  word  "  in  season, 
and  out  of  season:"  not  only  sounding  the  gospel- 
trumpet  twice  every  Lord's  day,  but  often  through 
the  week;  and  on  many  occasions,  when  worldly 
men  were  of  opinion  that  his  labours  were  unseason- 
able. Mr.  Wilson's  great  popularity  and  usefulness 
soon  awakened  the  envy  of  profane  sinners,  and  also 
of  several  neighbouring  ministers;  but  he  went  on 
undismayed,  trusting  in  the  Lord,  and  his  labours 
were  crowned  with  a  manifest  and  abundant  bless- 
ing. He  still  continued  to  promote  the  religious  ob- 
servance of  the  Lord's  day,  and  exerted  himself  in 
various  ways  to  promote  a  reformation  of  manners. 
But  while  Mr.  Wilson  was  proceeding  in  his  career 
of  usefulness,  he  was  suspended  from  his  ministry  by 
the  vicar-general  of  Laud,  for  refusing  to  read  the 
profane  B^ook  of  Sports.  In  April,  1635,  no  less  than 
fourteen  charges  were  exhibited  against  him,  and  in 
the  next  month  he  gave  in  his  answers. 

Charge — "  You  refused  to  read  the  King's  Decla- 
ration for  sports,  on  Sundays,  and  spoke  disdainfully 
to  the  apparitor  and  officer  of  the  court." 

Answer — "  I  said  unto  the  apparitor,  ^Remember 
the  Sabbath  day,  to  keep  it  holy,'  and  I  said  no 
more.     I  refused  to  read  the  Book,  not  out  of  con- 


412  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

tempt,  but  as  commanded  by  no  law.  The  King's 
majesty  doth  not,  in  the  Book,  command  the  minister 
to  read  it,  nor  it  to  be  read,  but  pabhshed.  Neither 
was  it  accompanied  by  any  seal  to  confirm  it.  And 
seeing  there  is  no  penalty  threatened,  nor  authority 
given  to  question  those  who  refuse  to  read  it,  my  re- 
fusal was  upon  sufficient  grounds  of  law  and  con- 
science." 

He  then  went  on  to  prove  that  the  proclamation 
was  repugnant  to  the  canons,  and  to  the  law  of  the 
land,  citing  his  authorities  with  the  exactness  of  a 
practised  lawyer.  He  showed  also,  that  the  Book  of 
Sports  was  contrary  to  the  councils,  and  contrary  to 
the  opinions  of  all  divines,  ancient  and  modern;  and 
proceeded  again,  to  cite  authorities  from  the  canons 
of  councils  and  the  fathers;  referring  by  name,  to  Ig- 
natius, IrensBUs,  to  Chrysostom  and  Augustine.  And 
contrary  also  to  all  the  more  eminent  modern  di- 
vines, such  as  Babington,  Zanchius,  Junius,  Alsted, 
&c.;  and  finally,  Mr.  Wilson  proved  that  the  Book 
of  Sports  is  coatrary  to  reason. 

Archbishop  Laud  had  laid  the  snare  to  catch  Mr. 
Wilson  for  refusing  to  read  the  Book  of  Sports,  that 
he  might  stop  him  from  preaching.  Accordingly,  as 
soon  as  he  gave  in  his  answer,  Laud  haughtily  re- 
plied, "  I  suspend  you  for  ever  from  your  office  and 
benefice  until  you  read  it."  And  thus  this  laborious, 
faithful,  and  successful  preacher,  through  the  envy  of 
Satan,  was  silenced  from  preaching  for  the  space  of 
four  years.  About  the  same  time  he  was  committed 
to  Maidstone  jail  for  non-conformity,  but  how  long 
he  remained  in  prison  is  not  known.  But  afterwards 
he  was  brought  by  Laud  into  the  High  Commission 
Court,  and  was  again  prosecuted  for  the  same  crime, 
to  his  great  cost  and  trouble. 

Mr.  Wilson,  during  his  suspension,  not  being  satis- 
fied with  the  ministrations  of  the  vicar  of  Otham,  re- 
moved to  Maidstone,  and  endeavoured  to  support 
his  family  by  giving  private  instructions  to  a  few 
families;  but  liis  enemies  continued  to  calumniate 
him  as  the  sower  of  the  seeds  of  division.     With  the 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


413 


view  of  wiping  off  that  reproach,  he  wrote  a  respect- 
ful letter  to  the  parishioners  of  Otliam,  in  which  he 
exhorted  them  "  to  fear  God  and  honour  the  king, 
and  to  walk  in  love  toward  one  another;  and  not  to 
cherish  any  dislike  to  the  government,  or  to  those 
whom  the  Lord  had  set  over  them.''  This  letter 
was  publicly  read  to  the  congregation  by  Dr.  Tuck, 
but  not  by  the  request  of  Mr.  Wilson.  Both  he  and 
Tuck  were  now  arraigned  before  the  High  Commis- 
sion Court,  and  charged  with  having  published  a 
scandalous  letter  to  nourish  schism,  and  to  confirm 
the  people  in  dislike  to  the  government.  To  which 
he  answered  by  confessing  that  he  had  written  a  let- 
ter to  the  people  of  Otham,  but  denied  that  it  was  of 
the  character  described.  He  said,  "  I  know  its  ten- 
dency was  to  induce  the  people  to  fear  God  and 
honour  the  king,  and  not  to  meddle  with  those  who 
are  given  to  change;  to  walk  in  faith  and  love,  and 
to  call  upon  God.  But  I  utterly  deny  having  said 
any  thing  derogatory  to  the  Church  of  England;  or 
to  confirm  the  people  in  their  dislike  of  the  existing 
civil  government;  and  I  protest  against  all  aspersions 
and  imputation  of  schism  or  scandal;  nor  did  I  direct 
any  person  to  read  it  in  the  church ;  nor  did  I  desire, 
or  wish  it  to  be  thus  read."  But,  notwithstanding 
the  clear  and  satisfactory  defence  alleged  by  Mr. 
Wilson,  he  and  Dr.  Tuck  were  kept  attending  on  this 
court  for  the  space  of  three  years,  to  their  great  cost 
and  trouble. 

While  in  this  state  of  suspension,  a  neighbouring 
minister,  eagerly  desiring  to  get  possession  of  the 
living  of  Otham,  endeavoured  to  have  him  ejected, 
but  the  patron  would  not  consent,  but  confirmed  Mr. 
Wilson  in  the  living. 

In  the  year  1639,  the  Scots  having  entered  Eng- 
land with  an  army,  and  the  Parliament  being  called, 
Laud  took  off  Wilson's  suspension.  But  his  troubles 
were  not  ended;  for  he  was  now  called,  with  others, 
before  the  archbishop's  visiters,  to  answer  for  not 
reading  the  prayer  against  the  Scots.  Edward  Bright 
being  first  called  up,  was  asked  whether  he  had  read 


414 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


the  prayer;  and  when  he  said  that  he  had  not,  they 
proceeded  instantly,  without  consideration,  or  giving 
him  time   either  to  retreat  or  to  defend  his  conduct, 
and  suspended  him  from  his  office  and  benefice.     Mr. 
Wilson  was  next  called,  and  being  asked  whether  he 
had  read  the  prayer,  he  answered  that  he  had  not, 
"  because  in  the  Kubrick  of  the  Common  Prayer,  it 
is  enjoined  that  no  prayer  shall  be  publicly  read,  ex- 
cepting those  which  are  contained  in  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer;  and  that  a  prayer  against  the  Scots 
is  not  there."     This  unexpected  answer  puzzled  and 
confounded  the  arch-deacon,  at  whose  tribunal  they 
stood,  and  he  knew  not  what  to  say.     It  cooled  his 
fury,  and  caused  him  to  proceed   more  deliberately 
with  Mr.  Wilson,  than  he  had  with  Mr.  Bright.     He 
allowed  him  fourteen  days  for  consideration,  and  then 
he   was  to  deliver  his  answer  at  Canterbury;    but 
whether  he  was  ever  called  upon,  or  whether  he  ap- 
peared before  the  archbishop  we  are  not  informed. 
Probably  they  were  satisfied  to  relinquish  the  prose- 
cution of  a  man  so  able  and  ready  to  defend  himself. 
Soon  after  this  prosecution,  a  warrant  was  issued 
from  the  lords  of  the  Privy  Council,  among  whom 
were  archbishop  Laud,  and  the  bishop  of  London,  to 
apprehend  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson,  and  bring  him  be- 
fore them.     We  are  not  informed  for  wliat  crime  this 
warrant  was  issued,  but  probably  for  non-conformity. 
The  pursuivant  went  to   Otham;    and  although  he 
heard  Mr.  Wilson  preach,  and  was  sometime  in  the 
same  room  with  him,  he  suffered  him  to  escape  out 
of  his  hands.     Mr.  Wilson  suspecting  his  business, 
retired  and  concealed  himself,  and  so  escaped  from 
the  snare;  and  being  thus  providentially  delivered, 
he  lay  concealed  until  the  meeting  of  the  Long  Parlia- 
ment, when  he  went  to  London,  and  presented  to  the 
House  of  Commons  a  representation  of  his  case,  and 
a  petition  for  redress.     The  subject  was  referred  to 
a  committee,  of  which  Mr.  Rouse  was  the  chairman, 
who  brought  in  a  report,  November  30,  1640,  "  That 
Mr.  Wilson  had  been  suspended  for  four  years  from 
his  living,  worth  sixty  pounds  a  year,  only  for  not 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  41  5 

reading  the  Book  of  Recreations  on  the  Lord's  day; 
that  the  archbishop  himself  had  suspended  him;  and 
that  for  three  years  he  had  been  kept  in  attendance 
on  the  High  Commission  Court."  The  House,  there- 
fore, resolved,  that  Mr.  Wilson  had  just  cause  of 
complaint;  and  that  there  was  just  cause  for  the 
House  to  afford  him  relief.  When  his  petition  was 
presented,  Sir  Edward  Deering,  a  member  from  Kent, 
arose  and  said,  "that  Mr.  Wilson,  your  petitioner,  is 
as  orthodox  in  doctrine,  as  laborious  in  preaching, 
and  as  unblemished  in  life,  as  any  minister  we  have. 
He  is  now  separated  from  his  flock,  to  the  grief  of 
them  and  himself;  for  it  is  not  with  him  as  with  some, 
who  are  glad  when  they  see  a  pursuivant  coming, 
that  they  may  have  an  excuse  to  retire  out  of  the 
pulpit;  for  it  is  his  delight  to  preach.''  He  went  on 
further  to  say,  respecting  Mr.  Wilson,  "  He  is  now  a 
sufferer,  as  all  good  men  are,  under  the  general  oblo- 
quy of  being  a  Puritan.  The  officer  watches  his 
door,  and  separates  him  from  his  cure,  to  the  great 
grief  of  both  of  them.  About  a  week  since,  I  went 
to  Lambeth  to  move  that  great  bishop  (too  great  in- 
deed) to  take  this  danger  from  off  this  minister,  and 
to  recall  the  pursuivant.  And  I  did  undertake  for 
Mr.  Wilson,  that  he  would  answer  his  accusers  in 
any  of  the  king's  courts  at  Westminster.  The  bishop 
answered  "  I  am  sure  that  he  will  not  be  absent  from 
his  (5ure  a  twelve  month  together." 

Upon  passing  the  aforesaid  resolution,  Mr.  Wilson 
was  restored  to  his  parish  and  to  his  benefice  at 
Otham. 

In  1643  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  Divines  at  Westminster;  and  though  at  a  consid- 
erable distance,  he  constantly  attended,  but  supplied 
his  flock  on  Sunday.  In  the  Assembly  he  was  much 
esteemed  for  his  meek  and  humble  deportment,  and 
his  grave  and  judicious  counsels  and  discourses. 
When  the  Assembly  was  over,  he  removed  from 
Otham  to  Maidstone,  where  he  had  before  resided, 
and  here  he  continued  to  labour  until  his  death.  His 
great  object  was  to  promote  a  thorough  reformation. 


416 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


which  he  accomplished  in  some  good  degree,  although 
he  met  with  no  small  opposition. 

He  was  not  only  laborious  in  the  pulpit,  but  in  the 
study.  Usually  he  continued  his  studies  to  a  late 
hour  on  Saturday  night,  that  he  might  be  the  better 
prepared  for  his  Sabbath-work.  On  the  Lord's  day, 
he  rose  by  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
was  displeased  with  himself  if  he  was  much  later. 
At  seven  he  came  out  of  his  study,  called  his  family 
together,  read  and  expounded  a  chapter,  and  required 
from  those  present,  some  account  of  the  exposition ; 
he  then  sung  a  part  of  a  psalm,  and  concluded  with 
prayer.  About  nine  o'clock  he  went  to  church,  and 
commenced  public  worship  by  singing  a  psalm,  then 
prayed  for  the  divine  blessing,  and  then  expounded 
six  or  seven  verses  from  the  Old  Testament,  continu- 
ing about  an  hour  in  this  exercise,  then  preached  an- 
other hour,  and  concluded.  He  then  went  home  and 
prayed  again  with  his  family,  before  dinner,  and 
spent  some  time  with  them  in  singing  and  other  re- 
ligious exercises.  In  the  afternoon  he  observed  the 
same  order  of  exercises  as  in  the  morning,  only  his 
expository  discourse  was  on  a  portion  of  the  New 
Testament:  and  it  is  said  that  he  was  an  excellent 
expositor. 

In  the  evening  many  of  the  neighbours  attended 
with  his  family,  and  they  spent  the  time  in  repeatmg 
the  sermons  of  the  day,  and  singing  a  psalm.  He  then 
went  to  a  friend's  house  in  the  town,  where  he  went 
over  the  same  exercises  with  another  company.  Once 
a  month  he  administered  the  Lord's  Supper,  with 
much  holy  fervour.  Nine  or  ten  hours  of  the  Sab- 
bath did  this  laborious  man  spend  in  social  worship, 
beside  the  exercises  of  the  closet. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  also  very  careful  to  set  a  good  ex- 
ample before  his  flock.  What  he  preached  on  Sun- 
day he  practised  through  the  week.  "  In  all  things 
showing  himself  a  pattern  of  good  works." 

But  his  piety  shone  with  peculiar  brightness  in  his 
sickness  and  death.  In  his  sufl'erings  under  acute 
pains  he  sometimes  mourned.,  but  never  murmured. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  417 

He  cheerfully  submitted  to  the  rod  in  the  hands  of 
his  Heavenly  Father.  When  lying  on  his  death  bed 
he  called  his  family  around  him.  He  desired  his  wife 
not  to  be  discouraged,  nor  "  to  sorrow  as  those  who 
have  no  hope,  but  to  trust  in  the  Lord  her  God,  in 
whom  there  is  everlasting  strength,"  and  to  continue 
in  his  service.  He  warmly  exhorted  his  children  to 
fear  God,  and  directing  his  discourse  to  his  eldest 
daughter,  he  said,  ^'Look  to  it,  that  you  meet  me  not 
at  the  day  of  judgment  in  an  unregenerated  state." 
He  commended  all  his  children  to  the  Lord,  and  left 
them  in  his  hand.  When  Christian  friends  came  to 
visit  him,  his  mind  seemed  to  collect  new  vigour,  and 
he  earnestly  exhorted  them  to  read  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, to  esteem  them  highly,  and  meditate  much  on 
the  promises,  to  be  holy  in  their  conversation,  and  to 
attend  on  divine  ordinances  with  all  diligence.  He 
highly  praised  God,  and  spoke  much  of  the  precious- 
ness  of  Christ,  and  said,  "  That  one  promise  was  of 
more  value  than  a  world.  The  prospect  of  his  ap- 
proaching death  was  very  comfortable  to  him.  To 
a  pious  lady  of  his  acquaintance,  who  was  leaving 
Maidstone,  he  pleasantly  said,  "  What  will  you  say 
good  Miss  Crisp,  if  I  get  the  start  of  you,  and  get  to 
Heaven  before  you  get  to  Dover?"  Another  person^ 
saying,  "  Sir,  I  think  you  are  not  far  from  your  Fa- 
ther's house,"  he  replied,  "  that  is  good  news  indeed^ 
and  is  enough  to  make  one  leap  for  joy." 

To  those  who  mourned  over  him,  he  said,  "  I  bless 
God  who  has  permitted  me  to  live  so  long  to  do  him 
some  service;  and  now  that  I  have  finished  the  work 
appointed  for  me,  that  he  is  pleased  to  call  me  away 
so  soon."  He  died  in  the  exercise  of  faith  and  hope, 
commending  his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  dear  Re- 
deemer, on  the  Lord's  day,  in  the  year  1653,  aged 
about  fifty-two  years.  He  had  a  strong  constitution, 
a  clear  understanding,  a  quick  invention,  a  sound 
judgment,  and  a  tenacious  memory.  He  was  a  good 
scholar,  a  hard  student,  well  read,  both  in  ancient 
and  modern  authors;  an  excellent  preacher,  an  emi- 

27 


418  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

nent  Christian;  and  his  highest  distinction  was,  that 
he  was  manifestly  "clothed  with  humility.^' 

Mr.  Wilson  was  twice  married;  and  by  his  second 
wife  had  eleven  children ;  ten  of  whom  were  living 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  J.  Wilson  ejected  in 
1662,  is  supposed  to  have  been  his  son. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  too  constantly  occupied  in  the 
active  and  successful  duties  of  the  ministry,  to  have 
much  time  for  writing  for  the  public.  As  far  as  is 
known,  he  left  but  one  printed  discourse  behind  him, 
and  that  was,  a  sermon  preached  before  the  House  of 
Commons,  entitled,  "  Jericho's  Downfall,"  from  Heb. 
xi.  30,  at  the  solemn  fast,  September  28,  1642. 

A  better  model  for  a  Christian  pastor,  cannot  easily 
be  found,  than  is  exhibited  in  the  life  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Wilson. 

Woodcock,  Francis,  A.  B.,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Chester,  England,  and  received  his  education  in 
Brazen-nose  College,  Oxford,  where  he  took  the  first 
degree  in  the  arts.  While  resident  at  the  Univer- 
sity he  entered  the  holy  ministry,  and  was  episco- 
pally  ordained,  soon  after  which  he  removed  from 
the  University  and  took  charge  of  a  parish.  Upon 
the  commencement  of  the  differences  between  the 
King  and  Parliament,  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
latter.  When  the  Assembly  of  Divines  was  sum- 
moned to  meet  at  Westminster,  he  was  appoint- 
ed one  of  the  number,  and  was  among  those  who 
were  constant  in  their  attendance.  For  a  time  after 
his  coming  to  London,  he  was  chosen  lecturer  of 
Lawrence-Jewry,  but  afterwards  he  was  appointed 
minister  at  Olaves,  in  Southwark,  by  an  ordinance  of 
Parliament,  dated  July  10,  1646. 

Mr.  Woodcock  took  the  covenant  with  the  rest  of 
his  brethren.  He  preached  several  times  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  and  some  of  the  sermons  which 
he  delivered  on  those  occasions  were  published,  and 
are  still  extant. 

He  was  chosen  proctor  of  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, but  he  did  not  live  long  to  enjoy  his  honours, 


WESTMINSTER   ASSEMBLY.  419 

or  to  exert  his  respectable  talents  in  doing  good.  He 
was  taken  away  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness  and  in 
the  prime  of  life,  but  in  what  year  his  death  occurred 
authors  are  not  agreed.  Wood  says  in  the  year  1651, 
but  Brook  places  it  in  1649,  when  he  was  only  thirty- 
five  years  of  age.  He  was  esteemed  a  good  scholar 
and  an  excellent  preacher. 

The  writings  which  he  published  are  the  following: 

1.  The  Two  Witnesses,  in  several  lectures  at  Law- 
rence-Jewry, on  Rev.  xi.  3;  1643.  The  publication 
of  this  work  was  ordered  by  the  House  of  Commons. 

2.  Christ's  Warning-Piece;  giving  notice  to  every 
one  to  watch  and  keep  their  garments.  A  sermon 
preached  before  the  House  of  Commons  at  their  so- 
lemn fast,  October  15,  1644,  from  Rev.  xvi.  15. 

3.  Lex  Talionis,  or  God  paying  every  man  in  his 
own  coin.  A  fast  sermon  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, from  1  Sam.  ii.  30,  1645. 

4.  Joseph  Paralleled  by  the  Present  Parliament  in 
his  Sufferings  and  Advancement.  A  sermon  preached 
before  the  House  of  Commons,  from  Gen.  xlix.  23, 
24,  on  a  solemn  day  of  thanksgiving,  February  19, 
1646. 

Young,  Thomas,  D.  D.,  was  an  eminently  learned 
and  pious  Divine,  but  very  little  is  known  of  his  ori- 
gin and  early  life.  It  is  probable  that  he  finished  his 
education  in  the  University  of  Cambridge.  After  he 
entered  the  ministry  he  was  employed  as  preacher  to 
the  English  merchants  in  the  city  of  Hamburg.  Upon 
his  return  to  his  native  country  he  became  the  vicar 
of  Stow-market,  in  Suffolk,  in  which  situation  he  con- 
tinued about  thirty  years,  diligently  and  faithfully 
performing  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  office. 

In  the  year  1643,  Mr.  Young  was  appointed  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  on 
which  he  was  a  constant  attendant,  and  in  the  dis- 
cussions and  transactions  of  which  he  was  eminently 
distinguished.  He  was  an  able  advocate  for  the  of- 
fice of  ruling  elder  in  the  church,  and  had  an  active 
part  in  preparing  the  Directory  for  public  worship. 


420 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


After  being  called  to  London  to  attend  on  the  As- 
sembly, he  was  chosen  pastor  of  Duke's-place,  in  the 
city.  In  the  year  1645,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
"committee  of  accommodation,"  and  soon  afterwards 
was  selected  by  the  Earl  of  Manchester,  master  of 
Jesus  College,  Cambridge.  In  that  eminent  and  pub- 
lic station  he  had  the  opportunity  of  displaying  his 
great  learning  and  abilities,  and  of  rendering  himself 
very  useful  to  the  public.  In  the  year  1650,  he  was 
ejected  from  his  office  for  refusing  what  was  called 
"  the  engagement. ^^  He  now  seems  to  have  retired 
to  Stow-market,  where  he  ended  his  days  in  the  year 
1655.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  church-yard, 
and  over  them  was  placed  a  marble  stone  with  an 
inscription. 

Mr.  Baker  says,  "  that  he  left  behind  him  the  cha- 
racter of  a  learned,  wise,  and  pious  man."  Mr. 
Leigh,  in  his  "  account  of  religious  and  learned  men," 
styles  him  "a  learned  divine,  very  well  versed  in  the 
fathers,  and  the  author  of  that  excellent  treatise  en- 
titled, *  Dies  Dominica.'  "  He  was  also  one  of  the 
authors  of  "  Smectymnuus."  Also,  he  published  a 
sermon  preached  before  the  House  of  Commons,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1643,  a  day  of  solemn  fasting,  from  Psal. 
xxxi.  24. 

LAYMEN. 

John  Selden  was  an  English  gentleman  of  most 
extensive  knowledge,  and  prodigious  learning.  He 
was  descended  of  a  respectable  family,  and  was  born 
at  Salvinton,  in  Sussex,  1584.  He  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  free  school,  in  Chichester, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  was  sent  to  Oxford,  where 
he  was  entered  a  student  at  Hart  Hall,  in  which  situa- 
tion he  continued  about  three  years.  After  leaving 
the  university,  young  Selden  entered  himself  at  Clif- 
ford's Inn,  London,  to  pursue  the  study  of  the  law, 
and  after  about  two  years  removed  to  the  Inner  Tem- 
ple, where  he  soon  acquired  a  great  reputation  by  his 
extraordinary   erudition.     His   first   literary   friends 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  421 

were,  Spelman,  Camden,  and  Usher,  all  devoted  to 
the  study  of  antiquities,  which  was  also  his  favourite 
pursuit. 

In  the  year  1610,  Selden  made  his  first  appearance 
as  an  author,  in  a  work  entitled,  "  Jani  Anglorum  fa- 
cies  altera  ;"  and  soon  afterwards,  a  treatise  on  "  Sin- 
gle Combat,''  entitled,  "  Duello."  In  1612,  he  pub- 
lished Notes  and  Illustrations  on  the  first  eighteen 
Songs  in  Drayton's  "Holy  Albion;"  and  the  next 
year,  wrote  verses,  in  Greek,  Latin,  and  English, 
upon  Brown's  "  Brittania's  Pastorals;"  on  which  ac- 
count Sir  John  Suckling  gave  him  a  place  in  his 
"  Session  of  the  Poets."  In  1614,  came  out  his  "  Ti- 
tles of  Honour,"  a  work  held  in  high  estimation  both 
at  home  and  abroad;  and  which,  "as  to  what  con- 
cerns our  nobility  and  gentry,"  as  says  a  certain  wri- 
ter, "  ought  to  be  perused  for  the  gaining  a  general 
notion  of  the  distinction,  from  an  emperor  down  to  a 
country  gentleman."  In  16 IS,  he  published  Notes  on 
Fortescue,  "  De  Legibus  Anglise;"  and  in  1617,  "  De 
Diis  Syriis  Syntagmata  Duo;"  which  was  reprinted 
at  Leyden,  1629,  by  Ludovicus  de  Dieu,  after  it  had 
been  revised  and  enlarged  by  the  author  himself 

Although  Selden  was  only  three  and  thirty  years 
of  age,  yet  he  was  so  distinguished  as  a  philologist, 
an  antiquary,  herald,  and  linguist,  that  his  fame  was 
exalted  very  high,  not  only  in  England,  but  in  foreign 
countries,  and  already  he  began  to  be  considered  what 
lie  afterwards  became  without  dispute,  the  dictator  of 
England  in  matters  of  literature.  In  1618,  Selden 
published  his  "  History  of  Tithes,"  in  the  preface  to 
which  he  reproaches  the  clergy  with  ignorance  and 
indolence,  and  as  having  nothing  to  support  their  cre- 
dit but  beard,  title,  and  habit.  In  the  work  itself,  he 
undertakes  to  show  that  the  clergy  now^  have  no  Di- 
vine right  to  tithes,  although  they  have  a  right,  by 
the  laws  of  the  land.  This  book  gave,  as  might  be 
supposed,  great  offence  to  the  clergy,  and  was  ani- 
madverted on  by  several,  but  by  Montague,  after- 
wards bishop  of  Norwich,  in  particular.  The  author 
was  also  called  before  the  High  Commission  Court, 


422  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

and  obliged  to  make  a  submission,  although  he  never 
retracted  any  thing  which  lie  had  published. 

Ill  the  year  1621,  he  was  again  called  to  account 
by  King  James  I.,  for  giving  his  advice  in  favour  of 
the  privileges  of  Parliament,  when  consulted  by  some 
of  the  members;  on  which  occasion  he  was  committed 
to  the  custody  of  the  sheriff  of  London;  but,  at  the 
intercession  of  Bishop  Andrews,  he  was  set  at  liberty 
in  about  five  weeks.  He  continued  to  pursue  his 
favourite  studies,  and  published  learned  works,  as 
usual;  but  in  1623,  he  was  chosen  burgess  for  the 
county  of  Lancaster,  yet  in  all  the  party  divisions  of 
that  period,  he  observed  a  strict  neutrality.  In  1625, 
he  was  again  chosen  a  member  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, for  Great  Bedwin,  in  Wiltshire.  In  this  first 
Parliament  of  Charles  I.,  he  declared  himself  warmly 
against  the  Duke  of  Buckingham;  and  when  that  no- 
bleman was  impeached,  in  1626,  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  managers  of  the  articles  against  him.  In 
the  three  following  years,  Selden  vigorously  opposed 
the  court  party  in  many  pointed  speeches.  The  King 
having  dissolved  this  Parliament,  ordered  several  of 
the  leading  members  of  the  opposition  to  be  brought 
before  the  King's  Bench,  among  whom  was  Selden. 
He  claim.ed  the  privilege  of  the  laws  of  the  country, 
and  refused  to  make  any  submission  to  the  Conrt. 
He  was  sent  to  the  prison  of  the  King's  Bench,  but 
was  released  at  the  close  of  the  year,  though  it  does 
not  appear  by  what  means  he  obtained  his  liberty. 
As  a  remuneration  for  the  losses  now  sustained,  the 
Parliament,  in  1646,  voted  him  the  sum  of  five  thou- 
sand pounds.  In  1630,  he  was  again  imprisoned  for 
a  libel,  which  it  was  proved  was  written  by  another 
person,  on  which  he  was  released.  But  notwith- 
standing all  these  interruptions,  he  went  on  with  his 
studies,  just  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

In  the  year  1636,  he  published  his  "MareClau- 
sum,"  in  answer  to  a  work  of  Grotius,  entitled, 
"Mare  Liberum."  This  book  recommended  him 
highly  to  the  court;  indeed,  he  undertook  it  by  the 
special  request  of  the  King.     In  1640,  he  published 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  423 

his  treatise,  "  De  Jure  Naturali  et  Gentium,  Juxta 
Disciplinam  Hebrseorum/'  PulfendorfT  speaks  high- 
ly of  this  work;  but  Barbeyrae  censures  the  work  for 
great  obscurity  and  disorder,  and  says,  "that  Selden 
does  not  derive  his  principles  from  the  pure  hght  of 
reason,  but  from  the  seven  precepts  of  Noah;  and 
often  refers  to  the  authority  of  the  Rabbins,  when  he 
ought  to  have  had  recourse  to  the  law  of  nature. 
Le  Clerc  passes  a  similar  censure  on  this  work,  say- 
ing, "  that  he  has  merely  copied  the  Rabbins,  and 
scarcely  ever  reasons  at  all.  Plis  Rabbinical  princi- 
ples are  founded  on  an  uncertain  Jewish  tradition, 
that  God  gave  to  Noah  seven  precepts,  to  be  observ- 
ed by  all  mankind;  which,  if  desired, the  Jews  would 
find  it  very  difficult  to  prove;  besides,  his  ideas  are 
confused  and  embarrassed."  There  is,  undoubtedly, 
some  foundation  for  these  censures,  not  only  in  re- 
gard to  this  particular  work,  but  something  of  the 
same  fault  runs  through  all  Selden's  learned  publica- 
tions. His  extraordinary  erudition,  and  vast  memory, 
seem  to  have  burthened  and  impeded  his  intellectual 
powers,  and  led  him  to  crowd  his  writings  with  cita- 
tions of  authorities,  to  supply  the  place  of  solid  argu- 
ment. 

In  the  year  1640,  Selden  was  chosen  member  of 
Parliament  for  Oxford,  and  although  his  politics  dif- 
fered from  those  of  the  court,  the  King  had  thoughts 
of  taking  the  seal  from  the  Lord-keeper,  Littleton, 
and  giving  it  to  him.  The  thing  was  referred  to  Cla- 
rendon and  Falkland,  who  were  of  opinion  that  he 
would  not  accept  the  place  if  it  should  be  offered  to 
him,  for  he  was  now  advanced  in  years,  and  of  a  fee- 
ble constitution,  loved  his  ease,  and  was  rich,  and 
would  not  have  made  a  journey  to  York,  or  have  lain 
out  of  his  own  bed  for  any  preferment  which  could 
be  offered  to  him. 

In  1643,  Selden  was  appointed  one  of  the  lay 
members  to  sit  in  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  at  West- 
minster, in  which  he  frequently  perplexed  the  Di- 
vines by  his  vast  learning;  and,  according  to  Whit- 


424  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

locke  "  When  they  had  cited  a  text  to  prove  their 
doctrines,  he  would  say,  '  Perhaps  in  your  little 
pocket  Bibles,  with  gilt  leaves,  the  translation  may 
be  thus,  but  the  Greek  and  Hebrew  signify  thus  and 
thus;'  and  so  would  silence  them.-" 

He  took  the  covenant  with  the  other  members  of 
the  Parliament,  and  Assembly;  and  about  this  time 
was  appointed  keeper  of  the  records  in  the  tower. 
In  1644,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  twelve  commis- 
sioners of  the  admiralty;  and  the  same  year  was  no- 
minated to  the  mastership  of  Trinity  College,  in  Cam- 
bridge, which  he  did  not  think  proper  to  accept.  He 
was  never  in  favour  of  any  violent  measures,  but 
seemed  to  aim  at  nothing  so  much,  in  these  troubled 
times,  as  to  keep  quiet  and  out  of  danger.  When  the 
Etxwj/  ^aoiVtxYi  came  out,  Cromwell  solicited  Selden  to 
take  up  his  pen  in  answer  to  it,  but  he  declined  the 
task  with  firmness.  In  1654,  Selden's  health  began 
sensibly  to  decline;  and  on  the  30th  of  November  in 
this  year,  he  breathed  his  last.  He  died  at  White 
Friars,  at  the  residence  of  Elizabeth,  Countess  of 
Kent,  with  whom  he  had  lived  for  many  years,  in 
the  habits  of  great  intimacy.  He  was  buried  in  the 
Temple  Church,  where  a  monument  was  erected  to 
his  memory.  Archbishop  Usher  preached  his  fune- 
ral sermon.  He  left  his  library,  which  was  very  rare 
and  valuable,  to  his  executors,  Matthew  Hale,  John 
Vaughan,  and  Rowland  Jenes,  Esquires,  and  they 
would  have  bestowed  it  on  the  Society  of  the  Inner 
Temple  if  they  had  had  a  suitable  place  to  deposit  it, 
but  in  want  of  this  it  was  granted  to  the  University 
of  Oxford. 

Concerning  the  learning  of  Selden,  there  never  has 
been  any  dispute.  In  Hebrew,  and  oriental  litera- 
ture, he  excelled  all  men  of  his  day.  Grotius  styles 
him,  "the  glory  of  the  English  nation. '^  He  was 
eminently  skilled  in  all  laws,  human  and  Divine, 
but  entered  very  little  into  practice;  he  very  seldom 
appeared  at  the  bar,  but  sometimes  gave  counsel  at 
his  chamber.     Whitlock  says  of  Selden,  "  that  his 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  425 

mind  was  as  great  as  his  learning;  he  was  as  hospi- 
table and  generous  as  any  man,  and  as  good  company 
to  those  he  liked."  Wilkins  testifies,  "that  he  was 
of  uncommon  gravity  and  greatness  of  soul,  averse 
to  flattery,  liberal  to  scholars,  and  charitable  to  the 
poor;  and  that,  though  he  had  a  great  latitude  in  his 
principles,  in  regard  to  ecclesiastical  power,  he  had  a 
sincere  regard  for  the  Church  of  England.'^  Richard 
Baxter  observes,  "that  he  was  a  resolved,  serious 
Christian,  and  a  great  adversary,  particularly  to 
Hobbes'  errors.'^  But  the  noblest  testimony  to  his 
worth  left  on  record,  is  by  his  friend  Clarendon. 
"  Mr.  Selden,"  says  he,  "  was  a  person  whom  no 
character  can  flatter,  or  transmit  in  any  expressions 
equal  to  his  merit.  He  was  of  such  stupendous 
learning  in  all  kinds,  and  in  all  languages,  as  may 
appear  from  his  excellent  and  transcendent  writings, 
that  a  man  would  have  thought  he  had  been  entirely 
conversant  with  books,  and  had  never  spent  an  hour 
in  reading  or  writing;  but  yet  his  courtesy  and  afl^'a- 
bility  was  such,  that  he  would  have  been  thought  to 
have  been  bred  in  the  ^best  courts,  but  that  his  good 
nature,  charity,  and  delight  in  doing  good,  and  in 
communicating  all  he  knew,  exceeded  that  breeding. 
His  style,  in  all  his  writings,  seems  harsh,  and  some- 
times obscure,  which  is  not  wholly  to  be  attributed  to 
the  abstruse  subjects  of  which  he  treated;  but,  in  part, 
to  an  under  valuing  the  beauties  of  style,  and  too 
much  propensity  to  the  language  of  antiquity;  but  in 
his  conversation,  he  was  the  most  clear  discourser, 
and  had  the  best  faculty  in  making  hard  things  easy, 
and  present  to  the  understanding,  of  any  man  that 
hath  been  known."  Mr.  Hyde  used  to  say,  that  he 
valued  himself  upon  nothing  more,  than  having  had 
Mr.  Selden's  acquaintance  from  the  time  he  was 
very  young,  and  held  it  with  great  delight  as  long  as 
they  were  allowed  to  continue  together  in  London. 
His  works  were  collected  by  Dr.  Wilkins,  and  were 
published,  at  first,  in  three  foho  volumes,  but  have 
more  commonly  been  bound  up  in  six,  and  some- 
times in  nine  volumes. 


426 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


Sir  Matthew  Hale,  was  bom  at  Aldersly,  in 
Gloucestershire,  November  1,  IGOO.  His  father  was 
a  barrister  at  Lincohi's  Inn,  and  being  incUned  to 
Puritanism,  placed  his  son  under  the  tuition  of  Mr. 
Staunton,  an  eminent  Puritan  minister.  In  1626,  he 
was  admitted  into  IMagdalen  College,  Oxford,  where 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  that  learning  and  know- 
ledge on  which  he  afterwards  raised  so  great  a  super- 
structure. But  while  in  College  he  fell  into  many- 
levities  and  extravagances,  and  had  formed  the  reso- 
lution of  abandoning  his  studies  and  going  into  the 
low  countries,  to  join  the  army  of  the  Prince  of 
Orange,  from  which  mad  scheme  he  was  preserved 
by  a  lawsuit  with  Sir  William  Whitmore,  who  had 
laid  claim  to  a  part  of  his  estate.  Afterwards  by  the 
persuasion  of  Sergant  Glanville,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  the  law,  and  was  admitted  of  Lincoln's  Inn, 
in  November,  1629,  Mr.  Hale  now  became  as  grave 
as  he  had  before  been  gay,  studied  at  the  rate  of  six- 
teen hours  a  day,  and  laid  aside  all  appearance  of 
vanity  in  his  dress.  Indeed  he  seems,  in  this  respect, 
to  have  gone  to  the  other  extreme,  for  being  a  stout, 
well  built  man,  he  was  on  a' certain  occasion  seized 
by  a  press-gang  as  a  person  fit  for  sea  service.  This 
incident  led  him  afterwards  to  be  more  observant  of 
the  decencies  of  dress,  although  he  never  went  to  any 
superfluity  or  appearance  of  vanity. 

Another  incident  of  a  more  solemn  kind,  is  thought 
to  have  produced  no  inconsiderable  effect  on  Mr. 
Hale's  mind  to  confirm  him  in  his  serious  habits.  He 
and  several  of  his  young  companions,  being  invited 
one  day  out  of  town,  one  of  them  drank  so  much 
wine,  notwithstanding  every  effort  of  his  companions 
to  prevent  it,  that  he  dropped  down  apparently  dead 
before  them.  Upon  this.  Hale  withdrawing  into  ano- 
ther room, fell  down  upon  his  knees,  prayed  earnestly 
to  God  for  the  recovery  of  his  friend,  and  also  for  for- 
giveness for  himself,  for  being  present  and  counte- 
nancing so  much  excess.  And  he  now  made  a  so- 
lemn vow  to  God  that  he  would  never  again  keep 
such  company,  nor  drink  a  health  as  long  as  he  lived. 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY. 


427 


His  prayer  in  behalf  of  his  friend  was  answered,  for 
he  recovered,  and  henceforth  Hale  devoted  all  his  time 
to  his  studies  and  to  the  exercises  of  rehgion.  Not 
content  with  reading  the  law  books  in  common  use, 
he  searched  into  the  ancient  records  and  made  valua- 
ble collections,  from  which,  and  other  materials  which 
he  had  in  his  reading  accumulated,  he  made  a  very 
valuable  common-place  book.  He  was  early  noticed 
and  esteemed  by  the  Attorney-general  Noy,  who  ad- 
mitted him  to  great  intimacy  with  himself,  and  was 
beneficial  to  him  in  directing  his  studies.  He  also 
had  the  happiness  to  be  received  into  the  friendship 
of  Mr.  Selden,  who  put  him  upon  a  more  enlarged 
pursuit  of  learning,  for  he  had  confined  his  studies 
very  much  to  his  own  profession.  And  this  great 
man  manifested  his  confidence  in  Hale  by  appointing 
him  one  of  his  executors  at  his  death.  Although  he 
now  embraced  many  branches  of  knowledge  in  the 
circle  of  his  studies,  theology  was  next  to  those  of  his 
own  profession,  his  favourite  pursuit. 

He  was  called  to  the  bar  shortly  before  the  civil 
wars  broke  out;  and  observing  how  difficult  it  would 
be  to  preserve  integrity  in  such  times,  he  resolved  to 
act  upon  those  two  maxims  of  Atticus,  '^  to  engage  in 
no  faction,  and  not  to  meddle  in  public  business;  and 
constantly  to  favour  and  relieve  the  oppressed."  In 
many  instances  he  rendered  important  services  to  the 
royalists,  so  that  in  all  important  causes  in  which  they 
were  concerned,  he  was  employed.  He  was  one  of 
the  counsel  to  the  earl  of  Stafford,  archbishop  Laud, 
and  to  King  Charles  himself.  So  he  was  also,  to  the 
Duke  of  Hamilton,  the  Earl  of  Holland,  the  Lord 
Capel,  and  the  Lord  Craven.  Being  esteemed  a  sin- 
cere and  honest  man,  he  was  held  in  esteem  and  em- 
ployed by  both  parties;  for  of  his  profound  know- 
ledge of  the  law,  none  entertained  any  doubt. 

In  1643,  Mr.  Hale  was  appointed  by  Parliament 
to  sit  in  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster,  and 
sometimes  appeared  in  that  venerable  body.  About 
this  time  he  took  the  covenant;  and  was  in  great 
favour  with  the  long  Parliament,  and  employed  by 


428 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


them  in  some  of  their  iiegociations  with  the  king. 
Though  greatly  grieved  on  account  of  the  death  of 
the  monarch,  yet  he  took  the  oath  called  the  '^  en- 
gagement/' and  was  appointed,  in  January,  1651, 
one  of  those  to  whom  was  committed  the  reformation 
of  the  laws.  Cromwell,  who  was  well  acquainted 
with  his  integrity,  and  profound  legal  knowledge, 
would  not  let  him  rest  until  he  consented  to  act  as 
one  of  the  justices  of  the  common  bench,  as  it  was 
called;  in  which  station  he  acted  with  great  integrity 
and  courage.  He  seems,  however,  never  to  have 
been  well  satisfied  of  the  authority  under  which  he 
acted;  and  in  several  instances,  gave  such  opinions 
on  the  bench,  as  made  the  ruling  powers  very  willing 
for  him  to  withdraw  from  criminal  trials.  In  one 
instance,  when  a  soldier  was  on  trial  for  killing  a 
citizen,  Colonel  Whaley,  who  commanded  the  garri- 
son, came  into  court,  and  insisted  that  the  soldier  had 
only  done  his  duty,  and  that  the  man  was  killed  for 
disobeying  the  Protector's  orders,  the  judge  paid  no 
regard  to  his  reasonings  or  his  threats;  and  not  only 
gave  sentence  against  the  soldier,  but  ordered  the 
execution  so  quickly  to  be  done,  that  there  might  be 
no  possibility  of  obtaining  a  reprieve. 

When  Cromwell  died,  Judge  Hale  not  only  declined 
to  receive  the  mourning  which  was  sent  to  him,  but 
refused  the  new  commission  offered  him  by  Richard, 
alleging,  "that  he  could  act  no  longer  under  such 
authority."  He  did  not  sit  in  Cromwell's  Parliament 
of  1655,  but  was  a  member  from  Oxford  in  the  Par- 
liament called  by  Richard,  which  met  in  January, 

1659.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Parliament  of 

1660,  which  recalled  Charles  H.,  and  moved  for  a 
committee  to  consider  the  propositions  which  had 
been  made,  and  the  concessions  which  had  been 
granted  by  Charles  I.  during  (he  late  war,  that  tlience 
such  proposals  might  be  drawn  and  digested,  as  would 
be  proper  to  be  offered  to  king  Charles  II.  at  Breda. 

Upon  the  restoration.  Hale  was  appointed  by  the 
king,  chief  baron  of  the  exchequer;  and  when  Claren- 
don delivered  him  his  commission,  he  said,  "  If  the 


WESTMINSTER    ASSEMBLY.  429 

king  could  have  found  an  honester  or  fitter  man  for 
that  emplo^^ment,  he  would  not  have  advanced  him 
to  it;  and  that  he  had  therefore  preferred  him,  be- 
cause he  knew  no  one  that  deserved  it  so  well."  In 
this  situation,  he  continued  for  eleven  years;  and 
very  much  raised  the  reputation  of  this  court,  by  his 
impartial  administration  of  justice;  as  also  by  his 
generosity,  vast  diligence,  and  exactness  in  business. 
He,  in  conformity  with  his  rule,  to  favour  the  op- 
pressed, was  indulgent  to  the  non-conformists,  and 
shielded  them  from  the  severity  of  the  laws,  as  much 
as  he  consistently  could;  for  he  believed,  that  many 
of  them  had  acted  a  meritorious  part  in  restoring  the 
king;  and  that  the  rules  of  uniformity  should  not  be 
made  more  rigid  than  they  were  before  the  war. 

In  1671,  he  was  promoted  to  be  Lord  Chief  Justice 
of  all  England,  and  in  this  high  station,  behaved  with 
his  usual  strictness,  regularity,  and  diligence.  In  the 
office  of  Chief  Justice,  he  continued  about  four  years 
and  a  half,  when  he  was  suddenly  seized  with  a  dis- 
ease which  brought  him  very  low;  so  that  he  was  no 
longer  able  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office,  which 
he  resigned,  in  1675;  and  on  the  25th  of  December, 
in  the  same  year,  he  died;  and  was  buried  in  the 
church  yard  of  Aldersly,  among  his  ancestors;  for  he 
disapproved  of  burying  in  churches,  and  was  wont  to 
say,  "  Churches  are  for  the  living,  and  church-yards 
for  the  dead."  He  was  knighted  soon  after  the  res- 
toration, and  was  twice  married;  having  by  his  first 
wife  ten  children. 

Sir  Matthew  Hale  published  several  treatises  in 
his  lifetime,  but  left  more  voluminous  writings,  which 
were  published  after  his  death.  Among  the  former, 
were  several  short  treatises  on  natural  philosophy; 
also,  *'  Contemplations,  Moral  and  Divine."  "  The 
Primitive  Organization  of  Mankind  Considered,  ac- 
cording to  the  Right  of  Nature."  Among  his  post- 
humous works,  were  some  valuable  law  treatises, 
which  are  held  in  high  estimation,  by  lawyers,  to  this 
day,  such  as  "  Pleas  for  the  Crown."  "  The  Original 
Institution,  Jurisdiction,  and  Power  of  Parliament." 


430 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


"A  Treatise  on  the  Common  Law,  &c."  He  left 
also  several  pieces  on  religious  subjects,  as,  "The 
Nature  of  True  Religion  and  the  Causes  of  its  Corrup- 
tion, &c."  "  A  Discourse  of  Religion  under  Three 
Heads.'^  "  Discourse  of  the  Knowledge  of  God  and 
of  Ourselves;  first,  by  the  Light  of  Nature;  secondly, 
by  the  Sacred  Scriptures." 

By  his  will  he  bequeathed  to  the  Society  of  Lin- 
coln's Inn,  his  manuscripts,  which  he  had  been  col- 
lecting for  forty  years,  with  great  industry  and  ex- 
pense; and  which  were  inestimably  valualDle  to  the 
legal  profession.  He  desired  that  they  should  be 
kept  safe  and  together,  bound  in  leather,  and  chained; 
not  lent  out  or  disposed  of;  only,  if  any  of  his  pos- 
terity of  that  society,  should  desire  to  transcribe  any 
book,  and  give  good  security  to  restore  it  again  in  a 
prescribed  time.  "They  are,"  says  he,  "a  treasure 
not  fit  for  every  man's  view;  nor  is  every  man  capa- 
ble of  using  them." 


THE  END. 


Princeton  Theoloqical  Seminary  Libraries 


1    1012  01236  0873 


Date  Due 


FE  23  '53 


;cCur# 


